
Oass. 
Book. 



THE HISTOHY 



WM MWkJiJ^ 






IBT WniLMAH AILILlSHo 




DEATH OF KASLEP 



]) WA mm So Fn ig ir^ 



^^4y. 



THE HISTORY 



OP 



3RIIIDGEW0CK 



COMPRISING 



l^^MORIALS OF THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 

\ND JESUIT MISSIONARIES, HARDSHIPS OP THE PIONEERS, 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS, 

ANB ECCLESIASTICAL SKETCHES. 



BY WILLIAM ALLEN. 



" A maa was famoua according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick treea." 

Ps. 74 : 5. 



NORRIDGEWOCK : 
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD J. PEET. 

1849. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by 

EDWARD J. PEET: 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Coiu't of Maine. 



THURSTON & CO., PIUNTEKS 
PORTLAND, MAINE. 






PREFACE 



To the CITIZENS OF NOREIDGEWOCK, this Volume is 
respectfully dedicated. 

The materials, collected with much expense and labor, 
have been for some time in a course of preparation. In 
the arrangement of the work, particular attention has 
been paid to its chronology. If aught of value or inter- 
est may be discovered within its leaves, — if its pages 
shall contribute to the laudable curiosity of those who 
love the faithful records of the past, or interest in any 
degree the descendants of the early settlers, the design 
of its publication will have been accomplished. 

W. A. 
NoRRiDGEwocK, 1849. E. J. p. 



EMBELLISHMENTS. 



1 — Death of Rasles, First Title. page. 

2 — View of a portion of the North Village, 9. 

3 — Old Point, 23. 

4 — Monument, 46. 

5 — View of a portion of the North and South 

Villages, 59. 

6 — Court House and Congregational Church, 99. 

7 — Female Academy, 133. 
8 — Union Church, 217. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I. 
The Aborigines. 

Names— Habits of the Indians— Various accounts by the French and 
English — Policy towards the Natives — Discoveries and Settlements in 
Maine— Sebastian Cabot — De Mout Castine — Harlow — Hunt — Capture 
of the Indians — Weymouth — Settlement at the Kennebec — at Wells, La 
Toxir — French and Indian Wars — Character of the natives. 
CHAPTER II. 
Nanrantsouak, or Norridgewock. 
Description of the Village — iTesuit Missionaries — Briart and Masse — 
Dreuelettes — Bigot — Rasles — Arrival at Quebec — Preaches to the Illi- 
nois — Stationed at Norridgewock — Life among the Indians — War with 
the English — Destruction of the Village — Death of Rasles — Character 
— Monument. 

CHAPTER III. 
English Grants and Land Titles. 
King James' Grant to the PljTuouth Council — Grant to the Plym- 
outh Colony — Kennebec purchase — Grant of Laconia to Georges — 
Sale of Maine to Massachusetts — McKetchnies' Survey — Settlers at 
Canaan — Farrington's Survey of Norridgewock — Description. 

CHAPTER IV. 
Settlement of Norridgewock. 

Character of the Settlers — 1772 — Warren explores the place — 
1773 — Warren, Fletcher, Wood, Clark, Fan-ington, Crosby, Wilson, 
Waugh, McDonald, Fling, Brown, Lamson — 1774 — Accident — Sev- 
enty lots selected — Revolutionary War — 1776 — Only ten Settlers — 
1777 — Clark comes with liis wife in a canoe — Gray — Martin — 
Thompson — 1778 — Spauldings — Paine — 1780 — Moores, Witherell, 
Laughton, Vickerie, Richards, Warren, Tarbell, Shed, Withee, Adams, 
Smith, Nutting, Thompson, Patten — 1781 — Longley, Sampson, 
Witham, Cook, Pierce, Gilman, Farnsworth, Kidder, Rogers, Lancas- 
ter, Heald, Robbins, 

CHAPTER V. 
General Arnold's Expedition. 

Arnold's march through Norridgewock — Parlin's Enlistment and 
Captivity — Chase taken prisoner — Fear of the Indians — Guard — 
False Alarm — Moose hunt — Sufferings of hunters — Hardships and 
Exposures — Death of Walton and Wood — Sufferings of Forbes and 
famUy — Condition of settlers — Taxes — Law-suits — Incoi-poi*ation of 
the Town. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 
Organization of the Town. 
Town Officers — Petition to the General Court — Abatement of Tax- 
es — Extracts from the records — Meeting House — Preaching — Rmn 
at the raising of the ^Meeting House — Alterations in the House — 
Books for records — Early settlers — Revolutionarj^ Pensioners. 
CHAPTER VII. 
County and State Officers. 
Organization of the Count}- — County Officers — Embargo — War — 
High Prices — Separation of the State — Brunswick Convention — 
Portland Convention — Gov. King — ApiDointments — Sheriff — Judge 
of Probate — Register of Probate — Register of Deeds — Clerk of 
Courts — Political Parties — Federalists and Republicans — Whigs 
and Democrats — Liberty Party — Reformers — Free Soil Party — Votes 
for Governor — Votes for President. 

CHAPTER Vm. 
T OWN Officers. 
Intemperance — Societies for Reforai — Cold Season — Sickness — 
Division of the Town — Freshet — Land Speculation — Surplus Reven- 
ue — Political Excitement — Population — Longevity — Finances — 
Town Officers — By-Laws. 

CHAPTER IX. 
Roads and Bridges. 
Spotted Line — New Roads — Improvements — River Road — Water- 
ville Road — Belgrade Road — Coburn Road — Gilmore Road — Mercer 
Road — Bridges — Toll Bridge — Losses to the Proprietors. 
CHAPTER X. 
Description of Norridgewock. 
Beauty of the Village — Public Building — Court House — Jail — 
Meeting Houses — Academy — Population — Agriculture — Mechanics 

— Merchants — Professional Men — Education — Benevolent Societies. 

CHAPTER XL 
Biographical, Sketches. 
.James Waugh — James Waugh, Jr., — John Clark — Oliver Wood — 
Ephraim Wood — Silas Wood — Moriah Gould — Rev. Wm. Paine — 
Peter Oilman — John Ware — Richard Sawtelle — Wilham Sylvester- 
Simon Pierce — W. W. Dinsmore — Lawyers — Physicians — Merchants 

— INIarriages. 

CHAPTER XH. 
Ecclesiastical History. 
General Religious Character — Jesse Lee— Methodist Society — 
Congregational Church — Baptist Churches — Free Will Baptist Church 

— Unitarians — Universalists — Remarks, 

APPENDIX. 

CoiTcspondence of Sebastian Rasles, and reminisences of Indian Old 
Point. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE ABORiaiNES. 

Names, Habits of the Indians, Various Accounts of the French 
and English, Policy of the French and English towards the 
Indians, Discoveries and Settlements in Maine, Sebastian 
Cabot, De Mont, Castine, Harlow, Hunt, Capture of the In- 
dians, Weymouth, English settle at the Kennebeck, at Welle, 
La Tour, French and Indian Wars, Character of the Natives. 

NoRRiDGEwocK is an Indian name, signifying 
smooth water between the rapids or falls ; when 
the place was first discovered by the Europeans, 
this name was appropriated by the natives to that 
portion of the river which flows through the town. 
The Indians had distinct names for different por- 
tions of the Kennebeck. From the source of Moose 
river, one of the longest branches of the Ken- 
nebeck, through the lake, down to Norridgewock 
falls, (a short distance above this town,) it was 
by them called Orantsoak. This name was given 
not only to the upper part of the river, but also to 
Moosehead Lake. From Norridgewock falls to 
Skowhegan falls, it was called Nanrantsouak, or 
Norridgewock. From Skowhegan falls to Merry- 
meeting bay, the river received the name of Cana- 



10 THE HISTORY OF 

bais, or Kennebeck. From Merryineeting bay to 
the mouth of the river, it was called Sagadahock. 

Some of the early settlers were accustomed to 
call this place Ridgewock; others, Myridgewock. 
When the town was incorporated, an effort was 
made to abridge the name of Norridgewock, on 
account of its length, but the Legislature chose to 
retain the original name. Norridgewock is pro- 
nounced, according to the analogy of the word and 
the custom of the Indians, with the accent on the 
second syllable. It is at present more commonly 
pronounced with the accent on the first syllable. 

The tribe of the natives who inhabited the val- 
ley of the Kennebeck, was known by the names 
they gave to the river. Originally, they were 
called Canabais, when their chief resided at Swan 
Island, in Merrymeeting bay ; but after they were 
driven back by the incursions of the whites, they 
made Nanrantsouak their principal place of resi- 
dence, and were then called the Norridgewocks. 

This beautiful valley was once the haunt of the 
North American Indian, in the rudest and most 
barbarous state. When first discovered by Euro- 
peans, the Indians of Maine had no knowledge of 
the use of iron, or metals of any kind. Instead of 
a hatchet to cut their wood, they made use of a 
stone, rudely shaped in the form of an axe, with a 
wythe for a handle. Some of these stone axes are 
still preserved as curiosities. They had no bread 
nor salt. A little parched corn, a few dried acorns, 
the roots of vegetables, small twigs and bark of 



NOIIRIDGEWOCK. IJ. 

trees ; the animals of the forest m winter, and fish 
in summer, constituted their food. Their culinary- 
utensils were made of birch bark, or the fibrous 
branches and roots of trees, plaited together in the 
form of a basket. They cooked their salmon, by- 
filling a basket with water, and throwing in hot 
stones to make it boil. Their covering was the 
skins of the wild animals they captured. They 
had no permanent places of residence, except for 
the aged and infirm, but roamed from place to 
place, penetrating the depths of the forest in the 
winter, and descending the rivers to the sea shore 
in the summer, roving wherever game or fish could 
be found. The aged and infirm were often reduced 
to a state of starvation ; and always suflfered great- 
ly during the winter, in their rude huts, unprotected 
from the snow and cold of this rigorous climate. 

There were five tribes in Maine, when first dis- 
covered by the Europeans, all classed under the 
general name of the Abenaquis. Of these, the 
Canabais, afterwards called the Norridgewocks, 
were the most formidable in war. The Indians, 
though united in their hostility to the English, were 
yet seldom at peace among themselves. They 
loved war, and cherishing resentments for a long 
time, they wreaked their cruel vengeance on those 
who had oflfended them ; and thus, neighboring 
tribes seldom lived in peace. The Eastern Indians 
had, for several years prior to the settlement at Ply- 
mouth, been at open war with the Massachusetts, 
which continued till A. D. 1632, 



12 



THE HISTORY OF 



The embellished accounts given by the Jesuit 
missionaries and the French historians, of the In- 
dians of Maine, are, at first view, wholly irrecon- 
cilable with the familiar narratives of their savage 
cruelties, their wanton destruction of property, and 
the barbarous murders committed on our infant 
settlements. But a review of the history of the 
rival nations of Europe, from the time of the first 
discovery of the coast of Maine, in 1490, until the 
Indians were subdued — and a comparison of the 
policy pursued by the French settlers with that of 
the English colonists, will account for the discrep- 
ancy in the statements. The English writers of 
that day describe the Indians of Maine as '' the 
very outcasts of creation, discovering no footsteps 
of rehgion, but merely diabolical,'^ *' the veriest 
ruins of mankind," " the most sordid and contempt- 
ible part of the human species." On the other 
hand, the French Jesuits, who insinuated themselves 
among the Indians at about the same time, describe 
them as " docile and friendly," " accessible to the 
precepts of religion," " strong in their attachments 
to their friends, and submissive to the rites and cer- 
emonies of the Catholic faith." 

The policy of these nations toward the Indians 
was as different as the estimate they placed on the 
character of the natives. The first Englishman 
that discovered the Kennebeck captured some of the 
natives, as if they had been wild beasts, and car- 
ried them to England, for a show. While, within 
two years of the settlement of Quebec by the 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 13 

French, and before the landing of the Pilgrims at 
Plymouth, missionaries were sent to instruct the 
Indians in Maine, and relieve them from their 
wretchedness. By the blandishments peculiar to 
the French nation, the Jesuit missionaries succeeded 
effectually in winning the natives to the interest of 
France, and maintained undisturbed their estab- 
lishment among them for many years. The policy 
of the French agents and settlers towards the na- 
tives, was conciliatory. By adopting their habits 
^nd manner of life — by supplying their wants and 
relieving them essentially from their wretchedness 
— furnishing them Avith knives, hatchets, and other 
instruments, the French were always regarded by 
the natives as their best friends. The friendship 
of the Indians was retained by the French, who 
adopted the habits of the natives, accompanying 
them in their hunting and fishing expeditions, in 
time of peace, find being the leaders of their pred- 
atory excursions, in time of war. By intermar- 
riages between the French settlers and the natives, 
often with families of the chiefs, their interests were 
identified. The imposing ceremonies of the Roman 
Catholic Church had especial charms for the sava- 
ges, and they received, with implicit confidence, all 
the instructions of the priests ; and thus the power- 
ful influences of Religion bound the natives strong- 
ly to the interests of France. 

The English, on the other hand, attempted to 
exercise their authority over the Indians by force 
of arms ; and, although the government enjoined 

2* 



14 THE HISTORY OF 

mild measures, their instructions were not obeyed. 
In many cases, the rights of unoffending natives 
were invaded by unprincipled adventurers, who 
acted from the depraved maxim, that " it was no 
sin to cheat an Indian.'^ Cheated in trade, their 
lands occupied by the settlers, and even their per- 
sons sometimes forcibly seized and carried off, to be 
exhibited for a show in England, or to be sold into 
slavery in Spain — we cannot wonder that the In- 
dians should regard the English with unrelenting 
hatred. Smarting under such personal injuries, the 
prejudices of the savages were inflamed by the 
artifice of their Jesuit priests, who taught them 
to consider the English as heretics, that ought to be 
exterminated. 

The English settlers looked upon the aborigines 
as heathen of the most degraded character, " vessels 
of wrath fitted for destruction," and believed it to 
be the duty of the government to exterminate the 
whole race. With such views and feelings, provo- 
cations would necessarily arise, and the savages 
wreaked their vengeance indiscriminately on the 
settlements of their foes. The depredations and 
murders committed on these occasions were some- 
times retaliated, with the same spirit of cruelty and 
revenge. In one case, to retaliate for a murder 
committed by the Indians at Richmond Island, the 
English hanged the first Indian they caught, al- 
though he was entirely innocent of the murder, 
and had committed no offence. 

The Indian character must have appeared to the 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 15 

French widely different from the exhibitions of 
savage nature, to which the EngHsh colonies were 
exposed. One party regarded the natives as friend- 
ly allies, whose sufferings they should alleviate, 
and whose character had many noble traits and ex- 
cellencies. The other party looked upon them as 
bloody, merciless and degraded foes, without any 
redeeming qualities. 

The national enmity, that for a long period had 
existed between France and England, was often 
demonstrated in open hostility and war. The 
grasping of each nation to secure as large a portion 
of the new world as possible; their interfering 
claims to the title and jurisdiction of this country ; 
the grants of the same portions of the territory to 
different companies, by the two governments, often 
indefinite in their limits, and conflicting with pre- 
vious grants and Indian deeds, and the base cupid- 
ity of individual adventurers, were the causes of 
constant hostility between the French and English 
colonies. To follow out a detailed account of the 
Indian murders and the startling events that took 
place, from the time of the first discovery of Maine 
by the Europeans, until the Indians were finally 
subdued at Lovell's fight at Pickwacket, and the 
destruction of the Indian village at Norridgewock 
in 1724, would exceed the limits intended in this 
history, and would be but a repetition of the 
accounts of Indian massacres with which all in 
New England have been familiar from childhood. 
A chronological list of the most important events 



16 THE HISTORY OF 

relating to the settlement of this State by the Eu- 
ropeans, and their intercourse with the natives, is 
given. 

In 1497, Sebastian Cabot, an English navigator, 
discovered and coasted along the eastern part of the 
shores of Maine, and hence the English govern- 
ment claimed, for more than a century, the sole 
jurisdiction of the country, although no attempt 
was made by them to effect a settlement until 1607. 
The right of discovery was considered by the 
European nations as a valid claim to all the lands 
occupied by savages. In 1600, the French took 
possession of the Eastern part of Maine, built fish- 
ing huts, and traded with the natives. The French 
government from this time claimed jurisdiction of 
the territory of Maine, under the name of Acadia, 
which extended as far west as the Hudson river. 
In 1603, De Mont obtained a grant of the eastern 
part of the State, and the next year he erected a 
cabin at Schoodiac. In the year previous to De 
Mont's grant, the territory upon the Penobscot was 
given to Madame Generchelle, a French lady, and 
soon after a number of her countrymen established 
themselves as settlers at that place. These settlers 
adopted the habits of the natives, pleased with sav- 
age society they selected Indian wives, and devoted 
themselves to the excitement of the chase and the 
camp. Degraded by their association and manner 
of life, they were bigoted Roman Catholics, servile 
to the dictates of Jesuit priests. In 1607, De Mont, 
who had setded at Schoodiac, proceeded as far as 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 17 

the Kennebeck, on a trading expedition, purchasing 
furs of the Indians. Here he erected a cross, and 
thus took possession of the country. 

In 1608, Quebec was settled by the French, which 
became the head quarters of all the settlers in Aca- 
dia. From this place Jesuit missionaries were sent 
to Maine, to visit the French settlements, and in- 
struct the natives. Baron Castine erected a fort or 
trading house at Castine, about the time of the 
settlement of Quebec. He married the daughter of 
an Indian chief By his traffic with the Indians, 
he became immensely rich, and acquired an un- 
bounded influence over the natives. Castine, the 
younger, a son of the Baron by his Indian wife, 
succeeded to his estates and the control over the 
savages. 

While the French were thus extending their set- 
tlements, and ingratiating themselves into the favor 
of the natives, the English were not entirely im- 
mindful of their claim, by the discovery of Cabot, 
to the jurisdiction of the territory. Voyages of 
discovery were made, and traffic with the Indians 
was sought. But a far different policy than that 
which the French had pursued, marked the inter- 
course between the Enghsh and the natives. 

In 1602, Capt. Harlow seized two Indians at the 
Kennebeck, and three more near Cape Cod, whom 
he carried to England. One of these captives 
found means to return to his native land, two years 
afterwards. He pretended that he could discover 
to his captors a mine of silver, and they eagerly 



18 THE HISTORY OF 

accepted his proposal to act as their 'guide to this 
hidden treasure. But when the vessel arrived near 
Martha's Vineyard, he jumped overboard and swam 
on shore, leaving 'the English to their disappoint- 
ment. The knowledge this savage had acquired, 
gave him an influence among his people. He be- 
came a leader of a party of his tribe, and was ever 
afterwards the inveterate foe of the English, against 
whom he had such cause of enmity. In 1604, 
Capt. Smith visited the Kennebeck for the purpose 
of discovery and trade with the natives. About 
the same time, Capt. Hunt, near the Kennebeck, 
enticed twenty of the Indians on board of his ves- 
sel, and then set sail. This infamous man-stealer 
carried the prisoners he had kidnapped to Spain, 
where he sold them for slaves. 

In 1605, Capt. Weymouth discovered and sailed 
up the Kennebeck river. He also captured five 
of the *' salvages,'' and carried them to England. 
He describes them, '' like all that sort, kind till they 
had an opportunity to do mischief," — which, we 
may imagine, was the opinion the natives enter- 
tained of him and his people. 

The first attempt at a settlement made by the 
English, was in 1607, when Thomas Popham built 
a fort at the mouth of the Kennebeck, erected sev- 
eral sm^ll dwelling houses, and left families iu thenii 
to winter there. The Indians were at first friend- 
ly, but some disputes arose between them and the 
whites during the winter. The settlers suffered 
jnuch froni cold and privation; their store-house 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 19 

was burnt, and they were seriously annoyed by 
the natives. The next spring, the discouraged set- 
tlers abandoned the place, and returned to England, 
giving no very favorable account of the country, 
or its inhabitants. 

In 1623, a grant of Lyconia, which included all 
the territory of Maine lying west_aLtlie Kenjiebeck, 
was made to Richard Vinn C a nd Thomas Oldham, 
and soon after, settlements were made in the county 
of York. King Charles the Second, in 1625, ceded 
to France, Acadia, without defining its limits ; but 
it was understood to include all of Maine, east of 
the Kennebeck. Soon after this, the Plymouth 
Company obtained a grant of lands lying upon the 
Kennebeck, and settlements began to be made at 
different points. Prior to the year 1634, the English 
had created fort Popham, at Arrovvsick ; fort Rich- 
mond, near Swan Island, was built in 1719 ; fort 
Weston, in 1754, at Cushnoc, now Augusta ; fort 
Halifax, at Ticonic, now Waterville, in 1755. 

In 1650, La Tour, who had maintained under 
the French government an establishment upon the 
coast of Maine, furnished the Indians with guns 
and ammunition. It had been the policy of the 
English, previous to this time, to withhold warlike 
implements from the natives; but afterwards, the 
savages found no difficulty in obtaining a full sup- 
ply, which they generally purchased of the French 
traders. In 1666, there was war between France 
and England. The Eastern Indians enlisted with 
the French, and their v/arriors spread desolation 



^u 



20 THE HISTORY OF 

throughout all the frontier settlements. The Nor- 
ridgewocks were the principal actors in the des- 
truction of Deerfield and Hatfield in Massachusetts. 
Called upon by the French Governor, they mus- 
tered at Quebec, and made their route by way of 
Montreal, and returned laden with plunder and 
captives, exhibiting the scalps of the English, 
frightful trophies of their valor and barbarity. 

In 1675, occurred king Philip's war. This 
savage chieftain, perceiving the encroachments of 
the English settlers, rallied the native tribes to 
sweep, with a general destruction, the invaders 
from their soil. But they were defeated, and their 
power was broken. After the war, most of the 
Massachusetts and Narraganset Indians joined the 
Eastern Indians, or sought refuge in Canada, 
whence they continued to harass the frontier settle- 
ments of New England, until the final overthrow 
of the French in Canada. 

In 1689, war was declared between England and 
France, which continued eight years. The open- 
ing of hostilities was signalized by several success- 
ful expeditions of the French and Indians. The 
settlement at Salmon Falls, Berwick, was destroyed 
by the savages in 1690, as well as the settlement at 
Casco Bay. In these predatory excursions, the 
Norridgewocks appeared to be the prominent actors. 

In 1702, war was again declared, and although 
the tribes had assented to a treaty of peace with 
England, through the influence of the French, they 
broke this treaty in seven weeks after it had been 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



21 



ratified. The same day the whole frontier of the 
English settlements, from Casco to Wells, was 
devoted to the flames, and the inhabitants to the 
tomahawlv and scalping knife of the merciless sav- 
age. Not content with this destruction, the Eastern 
Indians aftervvards penetrated into Massachusetts, 
as far as Ipswich. In these expeditions they were 
accompanied by the French, who made no effort to 
restrain their barbarous allies, in the cruelties they 
practiced upon our infant settlements for twelve 
years, when peace took place in 1713. 

In 1744, war broke out again between England 
and France, which was terminated by the treaty 
of Aix la Chapelle. But by this time the power 
of the Eastern Indians was dissipated, and we hear 
of but little mischief that was done by them upon 
the settlements of the whites. 

By this brief review of the history of our State, 
and the wars with the French and Indians, we 
may be better prepared to reconcile the conflicting 
statements concerning the Indian character. 

Jealous and resentful, they brooded over an insult 
or an injury, until opportunity offered to wreak their 
vengeance on their foes, and then they were cruel in 
their revenge. Impatient of labor, and improvi- 
dent for the future, they but half cultivated the 
fields, where they planted their corn, feasted upon 
the provisions they chanced to have, until they 
were wasted, and spent their time in indolence, 
when not driven by hunger to seek sustenance. 
They loved the excitement of the chase, and were 

3 



22 THE HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 

practiced in stratagems, in time of war. By their 
intercourse with the whites, they were more degrad- 
ed; for they copied their vicious habits, without 
imitating their virtues. Yet there were some noble 
traits of character, that gleamed forth in the moral 
darkness. Faithful in their friendship, they were 
not ungrateful for favors they had received. They 
often gave utterance to noble sentiments, with rude 
eloquence, in the deliberations of their own coun- 
cils, or in their conferences with other nations. 

Our ancestors undoubtedly imbibed unwarranta- 
ble prejudices against the Indians, and we may not 
be able to do them justice. Their vicious deeds 
still dwell upon the memory, and cloud the pages 
of history. If their deeds of rapine and murder 
were occasioned by the inveterate hostility of 
Christian nations, and by the artful emissaries of a 
foreign foe, they are to be pitied rather than 
blamed. 




o 
p 

O 

o 



CHAPTER II. 



NANRANTSOUAK OR NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Description of the Village, Jesuit Missionaries, Briart and Mass^ 
Druelleltes, Bigots, Rasles' Arrival among the Indians. 
Preaches among the Illinois, Stationed at Norridgewock, Life 
among the Indians, War with the English, Destruction of the 
Village, Death of Rasle, Character, Monument. 

" Through the chapePs narrow doors, 

And through each window in the walls, 
Round the priest and warrior pours 

The deadly shower of English balls ; 

Low on his cross the Jesuit falls ; 
While at his side, the Norridgewock, 
With failing breath, essays to mock 
And menace yet, the hated foe , 
Shakes his scalp trophies to and fro, 

Exultingly before their eyes ; 
Till cleft and torn by shot and blow, 

Pefiant still — he dies." — /. G. Whittitr, 

It has been often remarked, that the Indians, 
however degraded in their native state, displayed 
much taste and judgment in selecting the most eli- 
gible situations for their encampments and villages. 
Every spot where they attempted to establish a 



24 THE HISTORY OF 

permanent place of residence for their women and 
children was distinguished by the beauty of the 
surrounding scenery. But none of their encamp- 
ments presented more attractions than "Old Point,'' 
where the Tillage of Nanrantsouak was situated. 
The Kennebeck, sweeping southward in its course 
about one hundred rods below the site of the vil- 
lage, receives the waters of the Sandy River from 
the west, then turning with a short curve, runs 
eastward for about one hundred rods, and then in a 
north-east direction for half a mile ; thus forming a 
neck of land, containing nearly an hundred acres 
of intervale, including the elevated part where the 
village once stood. The site of the village was 
about twelve feet above the intervale, which lay to 
the south and east. A street or pathway, eight 
feet wide, settled about eiaht mches below the sur- 
face of the plain, and made perfectly smooth, was 
laid out in a straight line for half a mile, not far 
distant from the river, and parallel with the bank. 
The wigwams or huts were built on each side of 
this street. The church was originally constructed 
of branches, and covered with bark of the fir tree ; 
but it was afterwards rebuilt, with hewn timber. 
This edifice, surmounted with a cross, stood a little 
back from the street, at the lower end of the vil- 
lage. Near the upper end of the village, a beauti- 
ful spring of water gushed forth from the bank of 
the river. 

This was the most eligible situation in the Slate, 
for the Indians, in their mode of living. They 



N ORRIDGEWOCK. 25 

could raise their corn on the intervale below the 
village ; and the fertile intervales of the Sandy- 
River, opposite '' Old Point," were also cultivated 
by their squaws. The falls, two miles above the 
village, was one of the best fishing places on the 
river, which abounded with salmon, shad and ale- 
wives, before the fish were driven away by the 
mills, dams and obstructions of the white man. 

Whittier, in his poem of " Mog Megone," de- 
scribes the scenery around the village, as folbws : 

'T is morning over Norridgewock ! 
On tree and wigwam, wave and rock, 
Bathed in the autumnal sunshine, stirred 
At intervals by breeze and bird, 
And wearing all the hues, that glow 
In heaven's own pure and perfect bow, 

That glorious picture of the air, 
Which summer's light-robed angel forms 
On the dark ground of fading storms, 

With pencil dipped in sunbeams there — 
And stretching out on either hand, 
O'er all that wide and unshorn land, 

Till, weary of its gorgeousness, 
The aching and the dazzled eye 
Rests gladdened on the calm blue sky 

Slumbers the mighty wilderness I 
The oak upon the windy hill, 
Its dark green burthen upward heaves. 
The hemlock broods above its rill. 
Its cone-like foliage darker still ; 

While the white birch's graceful stem 
And the rough beechen bough receives 
The sunlight on their crowded leaves, 
3* 



26 THE HISTORY OF 

"Each colored like a topaz gem j 
And the tall maple wears with them' 
The coronal which Autumn gives, ' 
The brief bright sign of ruin near, 
The hectic of a dying year. 
######## 

On the brow of the hill, that slopes to meet 
The flowing river, and bathe its feet^ 
The bare washed rock, and the drooping gras&. 
And the creeping vine, as the waters pass ; 
A rude and unshapely chapel stands. 
Built up in that wild by unskilled hands. 
Yet the traveller knows it a house of prayer, 
For the sign of the holy cross is there. 

And should he chance at that place to be, 
Of a Sabbath morn, or some hallowed day, 
When prayers are made, and masses are said. 
Some for the living, and some for the dead : 

Well might that traveller start to see 
The tall, dark forms, that take their way 
From the birch canoe on the river shore, 
And the forest paths, to that chapel door. 

Marvel to mark the naked knees, 
And the dusky foreheads bending there, 

While in coarse white vesture, over these, 
In blessing or in prayer, 
Stretching abroad his thin, pale hands. 
Like a shrouded ghost, the Jesuit stands. 

The powerful tribe of Indians who made Iheir 
principal encampment at this beautiful place, were 
early visited by French missionaries, from Quebec. 
We learn from Governor Lincoln's * manuscripts, 

* Enoch Lincoln, the late Governor of Maine, was enthusias- 
tic in his researches of all that related to the history of the In- 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 27 

that in the year 1610, two Jesuits, Biart and Masse, 
visited the eastern part of Maine. Biart proceeded 
along the coast as far as the Canabais, or Kenne- 
beck, and introduced the hght and knowledge of 
his religious doctrines to the natives. They were so 
much pleased with the specimen he furnished them, 
of the excellency of his religion, that they imm.edi- 
ately despatched messengers to the Governor of 
Canada, for a teacher of the same faith to come 
and reside among them. Gabriel Dreuellettes was 
appointed, and was the first Roman Catholic mis- 
sionary regularly settled in the wilderness of the 
Kennebeck. He was a distinguished and well 
educated Jesuit, and, by his eloquence, he extended 
far and wide, to use the language of the Roman 
Catholics, "the glory and kingdom of God." 

In 1646, he built a rude chapel at "Old Point." 
This missionary station was sustained by him and 
his successors of that order for many years. In the 
French war of 1674, the chapel was burned by 
English hunters. But on the return of peace, rep- 
aration was made by the government of Massachu- 
setts, according to the stipulations of the treaty. 
Where the rude chapel stood, a new church of hewn 
timber, was erected by workmen sent from Boston. 

Dreuellettes was succeeded in his missionary la- 
bors among the Indians of Maine, by the brothers, 

dians of Maine. He left some manuscripts relating to the first 
Jesuit missionaries, drawn up in glowing terms. These were 
published, after his death, in the Collection of the Maine His- 
torical Societv. 



28 THE HISTORY OF 

Vincent and Jacques Bigot, of the family of Baron 
Bigot, in France. Vincent is represented as living 
with more than patriarchal simplicity among the 
Indians. He inspired them with zeal for their relig- 
ion, and mode of worship. His domicil was a rude 
cabin of bark ; his bed, a bearskin spread upon the 
earth ; and his food, the coarse fare of the natives. 
It is supposed that Jacques Bigot remained at Nor- 
ridgewock, till the arrival of Rasles. 

Sebastian Rasles, (or Ralle,) a man of good sense, 
sound learning, and pleasing address, belonging to 
a respectable family in France, was appointed a 
missionary to this station. An enthusiast for his 
religion, he consented to relinquish the comforts of 
civilized life, the endearments of home, and the 
pleasures of refined and polished society, to live 
with the Indians in their rude huts, for thirty-five 
years, in the wilds of the Kennebeck. From his 
letters * to his brother and nephew, we learn that 
in the summer of 1689, he embarked at Rochelle, 
and after a pleasant voyage of three months, arriv- 
ed in Quebec. Having applied himself diligently 
to the study of the Indian language, his first sta- 
tion was in a village of the Abenaquis nation. 
Here he found about two hundred natives, most of 
them professing to be Christians. After living two 
years in this village, he received an order from his 
superiors to go to the Illinois, who had lost their 
missionary. It was a diflicult and perilous journey, 

*See Rasles' letters to his nephew and brother in the Appendix. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 29 

but he immediately commenced his preparation, 
and in August, 1691, he started in a canoe, to go 
''more than eight hundred leagues;" traversing the 
vast lakes, he and his companions landed every 
evening, and considered themselves fortunate if 
they could find some flat rock on which to pass the 
night. Their only shelter when it rained, was the 
canoe turned bottom upwards. They encountered 
still greater risks, when in their frail birch bark 
canoes, they passed down the rapids in the rivers. 
Their frail boats were liable to be dashed into a 
thousand pieces, if they struck upon the rocks in 
these rapids. Suffering from hunger whenever 
game became deficient, they lived upon the lichens 
or ' ^rock trijpe^^^ which furnished them with a miser- 
able sustenance. But at length they reached their 
place of destination. 

Here he remained preaching for two years, and 
was again recalled by his superior, sent once more 
to labor among the Abenaquis, and was appointed 
to the station at Nanrantsouak. Here he found a 
convenient church, erected of hewn timber, highly 
decorated, ornamented and embellished with paint- 
ings, with a set of silver plate for sacramental uses, 
and a large number of converts. All were ready 
to receive him as their spiritual guide. Those who 
had not been enrolled on the register of the church, 
having been put on probation a proper time, after 
receiving suitable instruction, were admitted and 
baptized. He trained from thirty to forty young 
Indians, neophytes, to assist him in performing re-. 



30 THE HISTORY OF 

ligions services. He obtained for them surplices 
and other suitable dresses and insignia, in which 
to perform their acts of worship. 

Two chapels were erected, one at the upper part 
of the village, and the other below, in which they 
assembled, morning and evening, for singing and 
prayer. The design in having these chapels at the 
two extremes of the village was, that the Indians 
. might be reminded of their duty in passing them, 
whenever they left their village on their hunting 
and fishing excursions. He says his young Indians 
sung most delightfully, and no persons could be 
more circumspect and devout than were the natives 
in their religious duties. In a manuscript of Ras- 
les', preserved in the library of Harvard College, 
he says, '' Here I am, in a cabin in the woods, in 
which I find both crosses and religious observances, 
among the Indians. At the dawn of the morning, 
I say mass in the chapel, made of the branches of 
the fir tree. The residue of the day I spend in 
visiting and consoling the savages; a severe afllic- 
tion to see so many farnished persons, without being 
able to relieve their hunger." 

The game had become so scarce in this country, 
^hat for many years the Indians found but few 
inoose or deer. The bears and beavers had also 
become very rare. Their principal food was Indian 
corn, beans and pumpkins, 

They prepared their corn, by grinding it between 
two stones into a coarse hommony, which they often 
gejasoned with fat, or with dried fish. When the 



NORRICGEWOCK, 31 

corn failed, they sought for acorns or ground nuts. 
Rasles found the most difficulty in reconciling him- 
self to the cookery of the natives. They perceived 
his repugnance, and thought it strange, when they 
had learned to pray as he did, that he could not 
learn to eat as the Indians. Yet their habits and 
food were so disgusting, that he preferred to prepare 
his own food, in his lodge ; often living upon a few 
kernels of parched corn, or a few acorns. The 
Indians were always anxious to have him go with 
them in their fishing excursions, and would make 
use of much etiquette to persuade him to accom- 
pany them. They would choose a committee, to 
confer with him in the most diplomatic manner, in- 
forming him that their young men were about to go 
to catch fish and ducks, that it would be hard for 
them to abandon their Prayer, and that they should 
be happy if he were with them, so that they should 
not interrupt their devotions. His answers were 
framed in the same style. Instead of a direct con- 
sent, he would reply, that he was always pleased 
when he could make his children happy. They 
would then express the most enthusiastic joy at the 
result of their talk. Every faciUty in their power 
was cheerfully afi'orded by them, that their devo- 
tions might not be interrupted. They carried with 
them their chapel furniture, and a board about four 
feet long, which, with the necessary supports, 
served for an altar. On arriving at their place of 
encampment, the first thing was to erect a tent for 
their chapel, which was hung with silks and beau- 



32 THE HISTORY OF 

tifnl cloths, and carpeted with mats and bear skins. 
The altar was here erected, and divine service was 
performed as in the church. 

Rasles did not confine himself to the spiritual 
functions of his ministry. He had to act often- 
times as an umpire in settling their little differences, 
and as a physician, in mmistering to their wants 
when sick. But one of the most important offices 
he sustained, was that of agent for the French 
Governor in Quebec. As the English settlements 
were much more convenient of access to the In- 
dians, for the purpose of barter, fears were enter- 
tained that the natives would be detached from 
their alliance with the French. The strongest tie 
that bound them was their religion; and the Jesuit 
took good care to assure them, that "if they gave 
themselves up to the English, they would soon be 
without a missionary, without a sacrifice, without 
a sacrament, and without any exercise of religion." 
Thus taught to regard the English as enemies of 
religion, we need not wonder that the natives per- 
sisted in refusing every allurement held out to in- 
duce them to forsake their old allies, and come over 
to the interests of those whom their spiritual dicta- 
tor regarded as heretics, Avith whom no faith should 
be kept. 

About the commencement of the war between 
France and England, in 1702. Governor Dudley 
sought an interview with the Eastern Indians, to 
induce them to remain at peace. The council 
assembled at Casco, on the 20th of June, 1703. A 



NOKRIDGEWOCK. 33 

full deputation from most of the Indian tribes in 
this State was present. Rasles accompanied the 
Norridgewocks, to assist them in their consultation, 
hear the propositions that might be made by the 
Governor, and to take care that no answers should 
be returned by the natives, contrary to their relig- 
ion or the interest of the French. He did not in- 
tend to appear before the Governor, or that the 
English should know that he was with the Indians. 
As they approached the fort, they were saluted by 
the English with a discharge of the cannon of the 
fort, to which the two hundred canoes of the sav- 
ages responded by a discharge of all their guns. 
Immediately on the appearance of the Governor, 
the Indians hastily landed, and Rasles found him- 
self in the presence of those from whom he had 
intended to be concealed. The English were as un- 
willing to see the Jesuit at this council, as he was to 
be seen by them. The conference was conducted 
in the most friendly manner, a treaty of peace was 
made, and confirmed by the acclamations of the 
savages. 

The Norridgewocks had scarcely reached home, 
when messengers came from the French Governor 
at Quebec, stating that there was war between 
France and England, and calling upon these sav- 
age allies to break the treaty they had just made 
with the English, and once more take the hatchet. 

A council was called, and it was decided to com- 
mence hostilities. The young people were ordered 
to kill the dogs, to make a war feast ; and as they 

4 



34 THE HisTORY OF 

danced around the kettles that contained their food, 
two hundred and fifty of these savage warriors 
engaged themselves to enter immediately on the 
bloody work of massacre and destruction. A day 
was appointed by the priest for them to come to 
confession ; and thus the sanctions of religion were 
given to their cruel enterprise of exterminating the 
English. In order more suddenly and extensively 
to effect their work of carnage, they were divided 
into small parties, who were thus addressed by the 
chiefs, as they assigned their work of slaughter to 
each band : — " To you, we give this village to de- 
vour; to those others, we give this settlement, 
&c." Thus, on the same day, the war whoop of 
the savages was sounded from Casco to Wells, and 
the inhabitants were startled from their burning 
houses, to meet the tomahawk and the scalping 
knife, or dragged into a wretched captivity. The 
Norridgewock warriors returned in triumph to their 
village, each one with two canoes loaded with the 
plunder they had taken. Frequent irruptions were 
made by the Indians during the war. But the 
Norridgewocks also were doomed to suffer in these 
hostilities. While their warriors were absent, in 
1705, the English made a sudden descent upon the 
village, under Col. Hilton. The church was 
burned and the wigwams destroyed. 

On the return of peace, a deputation of the 
principal men among the natives visited Boston, for 
the purpose of procuring workmen to rebuild their 
church. The Governor received them very court- 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 36 

eonsly, and offered to rebuild their church and send 
them an English minister, if they would send back 
Rasles to Quebec. The indignant Indians replied, 
" Keep your minister and your gold, we will ask 
assistance of our father, the French Governor." 
But workmen were sent from Boston, who rebuilt 
the church in a manner which was perfectly satis- 
factory to the Indians and their priest. 

The peace of 1713 was soon broken by the jeal- 
ousy of the Indians and the machinations of the 
French.^* The natives saw with alarm the gradu- 
al encroachments of the English settlers on their 
hunting grounds, and they were often goaded to 
revenge by the unscrupulous conduct of adventu- 
rers who thought it no sin to cheat an Indian The 
French feared that the prosperity of the English 
settlements would be fatal to their power in North 
America. Instructions were sent by the French 
Governor, Yaudrieul, to the Jesuits, Rasles and La 
Chasse, to awaken the hostility of the savages, so 
that they might constantly harass the English, and 
if possible, drive them from the State. ; At a confer- 
ence at Arrowsick, held by Governor Shute with 
the Indians, in 1717, they demanded that no further 
encroachments on their territory should be made by 
the settlers, and complained of the injuries that had 
been inQicted on them by the unprincipled traders, 
who had defrauded them of their property. The 
existing difficulties were removed, and the peace of 

• Willis' History of Portland, Part II, page 30. 



36 



THE HISTORY OF 



1713 was again confirmed. But the causes of irri- 
tation were not yet taken away. French influence 
was still felt in the councils of the savages, awak- 
ening their jealousy and exciting them to acts of 
hostility. Brooding over the wrongs committed 
upon their nation, and having their merciless pur- 
poses of I'evenge hallowed by their religion, they 
were determined to sweep from their country those 
heretics, who had invaded their hunting grounds, 
and before whose presence the red man perished. 

In 1719, the Indians once more made their de- 
mands that the English should remove from their 
country ; but they were prevented from open acts 
of hostility by a small force stationed on the fron- 
tiers of the English settlements. The next year, 
parties of the Norriuge wocks corximitted soma dep^ 
redations on the settlers — killing their cattle and 
threatening their lives ; but further manifestations 
of ill feeling were prevented by the arrival of Col. 
Walton, with 200 soldiers, who had been detached 
to guard the frontiers. 

In August, 1721, a party of 200 Indians, who 
were well armed and under French colors, came to 
Arrowsic, to have a conference with Capt. Penhal- 
low, who had the command of the fort at that 
place. They were accompanied by the priests, 
Rasles and La Chasse ; M. Crozier, from Quebec, 
and a son of Baron Castine. Nothing was effected 
by this meeting, for the influence of the priests was 
so great over the natives, that no agreement could 
be made Avith them by the English, that would 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 37 

compromise the interests of the French. The In- 
dians resisted every attempt that was made to 
draw them into a conference, without the presence 
of their missionaries. And, as the French desired, 
the council was broken up; the Indians leaving a 
letter to the Governor, in which they complained 
of the encroachments of the settlers, on the inher- 
itance which the Great Spirit had given to the red 
man. They threatened, that if the English did 
not remove from their lands within three weeks, 
they would kill the settlers, burn their houses, and 
destroy their cattle. 

The government, knowing the influence which 
the Jesuits exerted over the savages, and judging 
truly that there would be no lasting peace, while 
these jealous natives were the servile instruments 
in the hands of the French, determined to capture 
Rasles, and carry him to Boston. To effect this 
purpose. Col. Thomas Westbrook was sent with 
300 men to Norridgewock. But some notice of 
their approach having been given to the villagers, 
the missionary immediately suspected the object of 
this force, and escaped with haste into the forest. 
Search was made for him by the English soldiers, 
without success, although one approached within a 
few paces of the very tree behind which the old 
priest was concealed. Unable to secure the person 
of Rasles, the English carried away the " strong 
box " which contained his private manuscripts. 
Among these papers was found the correspondence 
between Rasles and the Governor of Canada. The 

4* 



38 THE HISTORY OF 

machinations of the French against the English 
settlers, and their policy in arousing the hostility of 
the merciless savages, were fully exposed. 

The expedition having proved a failure, the 
government endeavored to avert the ill consequen- 
ces which would flow from the attempt. They 
sent presents to the chiefs, with apologies to soothe 
the Indians. But the invasion of their beautiful 
village by the hated foe, and the attempt of here- 
tics to seize their aged priest, whom they loved as 
their father, and reverenced as the ambassador of 
heaven, stimulated the Norridgewocks to take ven- 
geance on those who had insulted them. Revenge 
is always sweet to the savage ; and this people 
needed but little, at any time, to excite them to en- 
gage in an expedition which promised to gratify 
their deadly hatred against the English. 

A war party of sixty men, in twenty canoes, 
captured nine families of the whites near Merry- 
meeting Bay, and committed depredations on the 
settlements along the coast east of the Kennebeck. 
Another party surprised the village of Brunswick, 
which they destroyed — and followed up their suc- 
cess by attacking other places. When the Governor 
and council heard of the destruction of Brunswick, 
they made a formal declaration of war against the 
Norridgewocks. The Indians did not succeed in 
their attempt to take the fort in Georgetown, but 
they killed fifty head of cattle, and burned twenty- 
six dwelling houses. An expedition was sent 
against the Norridgewocks, under Capt. Harmon, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 39 

in February, 1723, which proved unsuccessful ; for 
the English were unable to reach the village 
through the deep snows of winter. The natives 
remained secure in their retreats until spring opened, 
then, according to their usual mode of conducting 
warfare, they divided themselves into small parties, 
and harassed all the frontier settlements. During 
the first campaign, the Indians were successful in 
their attacks on the settlements of the whites — 
burning their houses, plundering and murdering the 
inhabitants, and eluding pursuit. Although the 
government had oiFered a premium for Indian 
scalps, and strengthened their detachments in the 
various forts on the frontier, yet the savages were 
not prevented from making their murderous inroads, 
and bearing back their plunder and the bloody 
trophies of their prowess. 

At length, more energetic councils prevailed, and 
effectual measures were taken to break the power 
of the Norridgewocks. In August, 1724, two hun- 
dred and eight men, under the command of Cap- 
tains Harmon and Moulton, were sent to the head 
quarters of this warlike tribe. Proceeding up the 
Kennebeck, they landed at Winslow, left their 
boats with a guard at that place, and then marched 
cautiously along the banks of the river. When 
they approached the enemy, the force was divided ; 
a part making a circuit, so as to enclose the village. 
Most of the warriors were absent on an expedition, 
while destruction was about to fall upon their wives 
and children. It was nearly noon, when the unsus- 



40 THE HISTORY OF 

picious natives were thus surrounded by their ene- 
mies. A few soldiers discovered themselves to the 
villagers; a young Indian seeing them, gave the 
war whoop, and rushed into his cabin for a musket. 
The alarmed inhabitants immediately seized their 
weapons, and fired upon the invaders, but so pre- 
cipitately, that no damage was done. The English 
soldiers, as they had been directed, reserved their 
fire until they were within pistol shot, when the 
slaughter of the savages was terrific. Their ranks 
were broken, and they fled to meet the fire of the 
whites, who were advancing from above the vil- 
lage. Hemmed in on every side, men, women and 
children rushed to the river, and were shot down 
indiscriminately in the water. 

Orders had been given that Rasles should be 
taken alive ; but the excited soldiers could not be 
restrained ; as the priest made his appearance, he 
was pierced with the bullets of the English. Thus 
fell the aged pastor amidst the carnage and destruc- 
tion of his slaughtered flock. The church was 
plundered of its plate, and burned with the cabins 
of the Indians ; and to make the work of destruc- 
tion sure, the standing corn on the intervales was 
also cut down and burned. 

There is a manuscript account of this transac- 
tion, in the hand-writing of Rev. William Holmes, 
who was at this time the minister at Chilmark, 
Mass. In his journal, under date of Aug. 30, 1724, 
he says: " I heard lately, that we had obtained a 
considerable advantage over the Eastern Indians. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 41 

at Norridgewock. Captain Harmon, with one 
hundred and six men^ under his command, came 
to Ticonet on the 10th of August. There he left 
his boats, and forty men to guard them. Upon his 
arrival at Norridgewock, Aug. 12, f 1724, about 
noon, finding the Indians secure in their houses, he 
ordered twenty-two men to discover themselves to 
them first; while the rest had so posted themselves, 
that the Indians could not avoid them, but by run- 
ning into the river. The number of fighting men 
among them was reckoned to be sixty, besides 
women and children. When they came out of 
their houses, they gave a prodigious shout, in token 
of defiance of so small a number, and fired upon 
them, but without doing any damage. Upon the 
appearance of the rest of the army, they fired two 
vollies more, and then took to the river with their 
women and children, having lost about twenty of 
their number on the spot, without so much as one 
man killed or wounded on the side of the English. 
They were fired upon in the water, with great 
slaughter. It is thought that the number killed 
and wounded cannot be less than eighty. The 
scalps of twenty-eight of them were brought to 
Boston ; of which number, their priest's and Bom- 
bazin's were two." 

The soldiers, having accomplished the work of 
destruction, and scalped the slain, retired from the 
scene of desolation and carnage. The few scatter- 

* Also 102 men under MouUoo. i Old Style. 



42 THE HISTORY OF 

ed survivors of the Norridgewocks assembled where 
once their beautiful village stood, to weep over the 
dead, and perform the rites of burial. Their first 
care was to find the mangled remains of the mis- 
sionary, whose body they washed, and shedding 
many tears, they buried him deep below the altar, 
where once he stood to teach them the things that 
pertain to the spirit world. Their chief, Bombazin, 
was also among the slain, and as they committed 
his body to the earth, they grieved to think no 
prayer was uttered by priestly lips, and no burial 
service was pronounced over the grave of the 
mighty chief, where, for so many years, it had not 
been omitted, when the feeblest child was buried. 
When their mournful task was done, and the rude 
cross was erected to mark the spot, Ihey took their 
muskets, and turned to bid farewell forever to that 
home of their childhood, endeared to them by so 
many associations. Their place and their tribe 
were alike destroyed — the few survivors mingled 
with the Penobscots and others — and the name of 
the Norridgewocks was blotted from the register of 
Indian tribes. 

Rasles, whose tragical death we have noticed, 
was distinguished for his literary attainments. He 
was thoroughly educated, and wrote the Latin 
with classical purity. He made himself fully ac- 
quainted with all the Indian dialects, and prepared 
a dictionary of the Abenaquis language, which is 
preserved in the library of Harvard College. He 
tanght many of the Norridgewocks to write, and 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 43 

held a correspondence with some of them, in their 
own language.* He was a zealous Catholic, and 
devoted himself to the service of the church. He 
was mild in his manners, and convincing in his 
speech ; his conversation had a charm, that would 
compel the savages to listen to him. He knew 
how to adapt his language to their modes of 
thought, and to communicate the doctrines of his 
religion to those who had been entirely ignorant of 
the truths of revelation. Patient in suffering the 
inconveniences of a life among savages, and active 
in relieving the wants of those whom he came to 
assist, he toiled on in his great work of imparting 
knowledge to the ignorant, and elevating the de- 
graded. 

The only shade that rests upon his character, is 
the agency he exerted in exciting the Indians to 
war against the English settlements. If he did not 
directly urge on the savages to massacre the whites, 
he certainly did not use the great influence he had 
over their consciences, as spiritual dictator, in re- 
straining them from their murderous inroads. But 
his conduct in this respect admits of this palliation, 
that he obeyed the instructions of the French Gov- 
ernor ; and we should not judge one who lived so 
near the times of the frightful massacre of Protest- 
ants on St. Bartholomew's day, by the light which 
is now spread over the civilized world. 

Old Point has long been cultivated, and the plow 

* Willis' History of Portland, Part II, page 34. 



44 THE HISTORY OF 

of the husbandman passes over the site of the In- 
dian village, sometimes turning up the relics of the 
aborigines. About forty years since, a tree on the 
Point having been uprooted by the storm, there was 
found beneath it the bell of the Indian chapel. 

Whittier, in the poem from which we have al- 
ready quoted, thus describes the destruction of the 
Norridgewocks : 

In one lone village hemmed at length, 
In battle shorn of half their strength, 

Turned like the panther in his lair. 
With his fast flowing life-blood wet, 

For one last struggle of despair, 
Wounded and faint, but tameless yet ! 
. Hark ! what sudden sound is heard, 

In the wood and in the sky. 
Shriller than the scream of bird, 

Than the trumpet's clang more high ; 

Every wolf-cave of the hills. 

Forest arch, and mountain gorge. 

With an answering echo thrills. 
Well does the Jesuit know that cry, 
Which summons the Norridgewock to die; 
He listens, and hears the rangers come. 
With loud hurrah, and jar of drum, 
And hurrying feet, for the chase is hot. 
And the short, sharp sound of the rifle shot, 
And taunt and menace, answered well 
By the Indian's mocking cry and yell, 
The bark of dogs, the squaw's mad scream, 
The dash of paddles along the stream, 
The whistle of shot, as it cuts the leaves 
Of the maples around the church's eaves, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 45 

And the gride of hatchets fiercely thrown 
On wigwam, log, and tree, and stone. 

Hark ! fi*om the foremost of the band, 

Suddenly bursts the Indian yell ; 
For now on the very spot they stand. 

Where the Norridgewocks fighting fell ; 

No wigwam smoke is curling there. 

The very earth is scorched and bare. 
And they pause, and listen to catch a sound 

Of breathing life ; but there conies not one, 
Save the fox's bark, and the rabbit's bound ; 
But here and there on the blackened ground, 

White bones are glistening in the sun. 

And where the house of prayer arose, 

And the holy hymn, at daylight's close, 

And the aged priest stood up to bless 

The children of the wilderness, — 
There is naught save ashes, sodden and dank, 

And the birchen boats of the Norridgewock, 

Tethered to tree and stump and rock, 
Rotting along the river bank. 

In 1833, Bishop Fenwick, of Boston, having pur- 
chased an acre of land at Old Point, where the 
church formerly stood, with a passage way to the 
road, made preparations to erect a monument in 
memory of Rasles. This was raised on the 23d of 
August — the anniversary of the destruction of the 
church and village — and consists of a granite obe- 
lisk, three feet square at the base, and eleven feet 
high, placed on a granite basement and table stone, 
four feet square, and five feet high. The obehsk is 
surmounted by an iron cross, two feet high ; making 

5 



46 



THE HISTORY OF 



the whole height to the top of the cross, eighteen 
feet. 




KASLES' MONUMENT.. 
The following inscription, in Latin, is engraved 
on a granite block in the south side of the basement : 

t 

Rev's. Sebastianus Rasles, natione Gallus, e societate 
Jesu missionnrius, aliquot annos lllionois et Huronibus pri- 
mum evangelans, deinde per 34 annos Abenaquis, fide et 
charitate Christi verus apostolus, pericuHs armorum interritus, 
se pro suis ovibus mori paratum ssepius testificans, inter arma 
et caedes ac Pagi Naurantsouack [norridgewock] et Eccle- 
siae SU36 ruinas, hoc in ipso loco, cecidit tandem optimus 
pastor, die 23° Augustii, Ann. Dom. 1724. 

Ipsi et filiis suis in Christo defunctis, monumentum posuit 
Benedictus Fenwick, Episcopus Bostoniensis, dedicavitque 
die 23'=> Augustii, A. D. 1^33. A. M. D. G. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 47 



TRANSLATION. 



Rev. Sebastian Rasles, a native of France, a 
missionary of the Society of Jesuits, at first preach- 
ing for a few years to the IlUnois and Hurons, 
afterwards, for thirty-four years, to the Abenaquis, 
in faith and charity a true apostle of Christ, un- 
daunted by the danger of arms, often testifying that 
he was prepared to die for his flock ; at length, this 
best of pastors fell amidst arms, at the destruction 
of the village of Norridgewock, and the ruins of 
his own church, in this very place, on the 23d day 
of August, A. D. 1724, 

Benedict Fen wick. Bishop of Boston, has erected 
this monument, and dedicated it to him and his 
deceased children in Christ, on the 23d of August, 
A. D. 1833. To the greater glory of God. 

A large concourse of people, estimated at three 
thousand, assembled to witness the ceremony of 
the dedication, and to listen to an interesting address 
on the character of Rasles, by Bishop Fenwick. 

This monument was thrown down two years 
afterwards, by mischievous persons, at the instiga- 
tion of strangers from Boston, whose prejudices 
were excited against the Catholics. It was imme- 
diately replaced by some of the citizens of Norridge- 
wock, and remains a humble and harmless memento 
of the place where the Indian church once stood. 



CHAPTER III. 



ENGLISH GRANTS AND LAND TITLES. 

King James' grant to the Plymouth Council, Grant to the 
Plymouth Colony, Kennebeck Purchase, Grant of Laconia to 
Gorges, McKechnie's Survey, Settlers at Canaan, Farring- 
ton's Survey, Description. 

In order to understand the history of this and the 
adjoining towns, it is necessary to recur to the first 
settlement of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth, 
At that time, the English government assumed the 
title and jurisdiction of all the lands in New Eng- 
land, and made extensive grants to companies and 
individuals. 

In 1606, Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Sir John 
Popham, hecoming deeply interested in planting a 
colony in North America, succeeded in enlisting 
many of the first names in England in behalf of 
the enterprise. Two com.panies were formed ; one 
called the London Company, by whom the first 
English colony was planted at Virginia ; the other, 
the Plymouth Company, who despatched an expe- 
dition to settle in North Virginia, as this part of 
North America was then called. The expedition 



THE HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 49 

fitted out by the Plymouth Company, commenced 
a settlement near the mouth of the Kennebeck, in 
1607. But this settlement was abandoned the next 
year. By the efforts of Gorges, a new company 
Avas formed in 1620, and a grant was made by 
King James to this corporation, known by the name 
of " the Council established at Plymouth, in the 
County of 'Devon, for the planting, ruling and gov- 
erning of New England, in America, of all the 
territory, from the fortieth to the forty-eighth degree 
of north latitude. 

The Pilgrims, after their settlement at Plymouth, 
found themselves without a legal title to the soil, 
and, in the name of William Bradford, they ob- 
tained a patent from the Council of Plymouth, in 
1629, by which was granted to them the territory of 
the colony, and a tract of land, extending from the 
Cobbossee Contee to the falls of the Nequamkike,=i^ 
and the space of fifteen miles on each side of the 
Kennebeck. This grant, by subsequent arrangment 
and consent, extended to and included the whole of 
Norridgewock, and all the lands lying between this 
town and Woolwich, extending back fifteen miles, 
on each side of the Kennebeck. 

In 1661, the Plymouth colony conveyed their 
right to this tract of land to Antipas Boies and 
others. These persons and their heirs held this 
territory for nearly a century, without making any 
efforts to effect a settlement. In 1749, a meeting of 

* It is not known, to this day, what place was intended by 
♦« the falls of Nequamkike." 

5* 



50 THE HISTORY OF 

the proprietors was called ; and in 1753, they were 
incorporated, under the name of " Proprietors of the 
Kennebeck Purchase, of the late colony of New 
Plymouth," but they are commonly known by the 
name of the Plymouth Company. The meetings 
of the Company continued regularly, from 1749 to 
1816, when the proprietors sold out their remaining 
interest at auction, and the Company was dissolved. 
Before the Council at Plymouth had granted to 
the Plymouth colony the lands lying on the Ken- 
nebeck, they had granted Laconia, or all the lands 
situated between the rivers Merrimack and Sagada- 
hock, extending back to the great lakes and the 
river of Canada, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and 
John Mason. This was in 1622. These proprie- 
tors divided this territory between them; Mason 
taking out a separate patent in 1629, for that por- 
tion lying south and west of the Piscataqua, which 
he called New Hampshire. The remaining portion 
became the property of Gorges, who gave the terri- 
tory the name of New Somersetshire, in compli- 
ment to his native county. In 1640, the patent 
from the Council at Plymouth to Gorges was con- 
firmed by a new charter from the Crown, and the 
territory was first styled the Province of Maine. 
The government of Massachusetts laid claim to this 
territory, and after a long controversy, it was de- 
cided in favor of the heirs of Gorges. But Ferdi- 
nando Gorges, the grandson of the old Lord 
Proprietor, sold out his title to Massachusetts, in 
1677, and thus Maine became annexed to that com' 
monweahh, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 51 

In 1767, the Plymouth Company, wishing to en- 
courage settlements on their lands, as there were at 
this time no settlers above Waterville, and desiring 
to make a partition of a portion of their lands 
among individual proprietors, employed Doct. John 
McKechnie to survey twelve lots on each side of the 
Kennebeck, called the great lots. Directions were 
given that these lots should be three hundred and 
six rods wide on the river, and extend back fifteen 
miles; and that two settlers' lots, of two hundred 
acres each, should be laid out on each of the great 
lots fronting on the river. As the settlers' lots were 
seventy-five rods wide, one half of the front of the 
great lots was given to those who would settle 
thereon. 

The recitals in the grants made by the proprietors 
of the Kennebeck Purchase, or the Plymouth Com- 
pany, as they are better known, contain historical 
facts which are of general interest* All the orig- 
inal grants to settlers in this town are of the same 
tenor, except the conditions as to settling duties. In 
1770, after Doct. McKechnie had made his survey 
of the great lots, the proprietors found that addi- 
tional inducements were necessary to procure settlers 
on the remote parts of their lands, they concluded 
to give a lot of two hundred acres to each person 
who would settle on their lands, in this town or 
Canaan, (including what is now Bloomfield and 
Skowhegan,) "on condition that he actually settled 

* A copy of the grant of one of these lots, extending into the 
town, and including about one seventh part of it, is inserted en- 
tire in the appendix. 



52 THE HISTORY OF 

or dwelt thereon for the space of ten years, built a 
dwelling house thereon, and within three years of 
the time of his removing on said land, should clear 
up and put into grass five acres." Afterwards, a 
provision was put in many grants, requiring each 
settler to work two days in a year on the public 
road ; and to contribute to the support of the Gos- 
pel, or to work two days in a year on a meeting- 
house. They made arrangments with many who 
v/ere disposed to listen to their proposals, for the 
appointment of a committee of three, who were to 
have an oversight of the settlers, and who were 
empowered to give certificates to those who should 
perform the conditions, called "settling duties," so 
that they might obtain the title to their farms in due 
time. 

In 1771, under these encouragements, Joseph 
Weston, of Littleton, Massachusetts, a man ad- 
vanced in life, who had seven sons, the ancestors 
of all the Westons in this county, Peter Hey wood 
and Jonathan Oakes, who also had families, Isaac 
Smith and two other young men, all from the same 
vicinity, came to Ticonic in the summer season. 
They explored the country as far up as the Old 
Point, at the mouth of Sandy river. They found 
that the intervales, in many places, had been cleared 
by the Indians a long time before, also many of the 
small islands in the river. The places cleared 
were covered with wild grass; from which they 
procured hay sufficient to winter a yoke of oxen, 
and one or two cows. Mr. Oakes commenced 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 53 

clearing land, and built a house near the great 
eddy. Mr. Hey wood commenced his settlement on 
the farm now owned by Abraham Wyinan. Mr. 
Weston, who is regarded as the first settler in Ca- 
naan, (now Bloomfield,) commenced on the farm 
now owned by Phineas Currier, built a log house 
near the bank of the river, and made preparations 
to remove his family to that place in the fall. He, 
however, did not get any farther than Pownalton, 
where the vessel was stopped by the ice, and he 
Avas obliged to remain there and at Vassalboro with 
his family, until the next spring. One of his sons, 
the late Eli Weston, Esq., then about twelve years 
old, and Isaac Smith, who was eighteen years of 
age, came with a yoke of oxen and two cows, and 
wintered in Canaan. In April, 1772, Mr. Weston 
arrived at his new home in the wilderness. Mr. 
Heywood, Mr. Oakes, and two others, soon after 
came and settled upon the lots they had commenced 
clearing. 

During the summer of 1773, the proprietors em- 
ployed John Jones, formerly of Concord, Massa- 
chusetts, a noted surveyor, called Black Jones, to 
run out lots for settlers. He surveyed the greater 
part of what is now Bloomfield, a part of what is 
now Skowhegan, and extended his survey on the 
south side of the river, up into Norridgewock, as 
far as the upper line of the land now owned by 
George Farnsworth, at the "rips," so called. His 
whole survey he named '^Canaan Plantation." 

In the summer of 1774, Thomas Farrington was 



54 THE HISTORY OF 

sent by the proprietors, to survey lots for settlers in 
Norridgevvock. His instructions were, that he 
should run out lots, seventy-five rods in width on 
the river, and extending back one mile and one 
third of a mile, so as to include two hundred acres 
in each lot. He commenced with lot No. 61, at 
Skowhegan Falls, which was granted to Eleazer 
Spaulding, for his services as one of the committee, 
without requiring the usual "settling duties." 
Spaulding then lived in Pepperell, Massachusetts; 
he afterwards sold his right to Daniel Steward, 
Esq., and the lot is now owned by the Messrs. Go- 
burns and others, comprising a portion of Skowhe- 
gan village. Farrington did but little more than to 
take a survey of the river, mark the corners of the 
lots on the bank, and return his plan with two hun- 
dred acres laid down on each lot, according to his 
instructions. Bat upon the actual measurement of 
his lots, by the bounds marked on the banks of the 
river, and by the range lines designated on his plan, 
they are found to contain, on an average, two hun- 
dred and forty acres, and some lots contain three 
hundred acres. None of the lots are less than 
eighty rods wide, and some are ninety or more. 
His manner of surveying, from the Village lot up 
to Old Point, was to put up his bounds on the north 
side of the river, set his compass, and take his 
course across the river in a direction with the side 
lines of the lots, and send a man across in a canoe, 
to mark a corner on the south side of the river. He 
then took the canoe, with his baggage, up the river. 



NORRtDGEWOCK. 55 

and let the chainmen work their way along the 
bank of the river, in the best manner they could, 
until they had run out the seventy-five rods; he 
would then come on shore, and guess at the neces- 
sary addition for the crooks and turns, and after 
making what he considered a liberal allowance, he 
would mark a corner, and send a man across the 
river to mark a corner on the opposite bank. In 
this way, all the corners on each bank are, or ought 
to be, opposite one with the other. The lots on the 
north side of the river were numbered from 61 to 
94, which is at the Old Point. The lots in the 
north part of the town are designated by the letters 
of the alphabet, from A to O. The village lot, ly- 
ing in the bend of the river, is marked jE, and 
contains three hundred acres. A gore in the north- 
east corner of the town was not then lotted. The 
whole number of lots was fifty on the north side of 
the river, and twenty-one on the south side. He 
extended his survey up the Sandy river, about two 
miles, into what is now Starks, but was formerly 
called Little Norridgewock. Farrington called the 
whole of his survey Norridgewock. 

The village, a mile southeast of the centre of the 
town, is in 44*^ 30' north latitude, and 7° 30' east 
longitude. Nearly two thousand acres of the terri- 
tory of the town was set off in 1828, and annexed 
to the town of Milburn, now Skowhegan. The 
tov/n of Norridgewock is now nearly of a rectan- 
gular form, but the lines are somewhat irregular in 
their courses, occasioned by the annexation of sev- 



56 THE HISTORY OF 

eral small parcels or farms, since the boundaries 
were first established. It is bounded on the north 
by Madison, east by Skowhegan and Bloomfield, 
south by Fairfield and Srnithfield, and on the west 
by Mercer and Starks. It contains about twenty- 
six thousand acres, being about six and two thirds 
miles in length, from north to south, and averaging 
about six and one third miles in breadth, from east 
to west. 

The Kennebeck enters the town near its north- 
west corner, with a brisk current, and after making 
several short turns, runs in a direct course south- 
easterly, to a place opposite the village, passing 
over a fall of six feet, in a distance of little more 
than six rods, at Bombazee, three miles above the 
village. The river makes a gentle curve between 
the two villages, and then runs in a straight course 
northeasterly five miles, to Skowhegan Falls; pass- 
ing out of the town a mile and a half south of its 
northeast corner. This portion of the river is a 
fine sheet of water, and is boatable with safety and 
convenience, the current being very gentle. 

The river is from twenty-five to forty rods wide, 
and can be forded in two or three places, in very 
dry times, when the water is low. It is skirted 
half the way through the town with intervales; in 
some places, near the upper part of the town, the 
intervale is a hundred rods in breadth, and is fertile 
and valuable. About three fifths of the town lies 
on the south side of the river, but more than three 
fifths of the taxable property is found on the north 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 57 

side. The surface of more than one third part of 
the town is level, and free from stones — on which 
the soil is sandy, or covered with yellow loam; and 
one third part is undulating or hilly; the hills are 
generally stony, and the soil rich, afForduig good 
pasturage. In some portions of the town, the soil 
is clayey, a part is rich intervale, some small por- 
tions are precipitous and sandy, and but a small 
portion swampy, barren or unproductive. The soil 
is generally better adapted to tillage than for graz- 
ing, and is generally of good quality and easily 
cultivated. 

There was formerly a considerable quantity of 
pine timber in the town, which was distinguished 
for its size. The hard wood growth originally con- 
sisted of beech, ^ sugar maple,^ yellow and white 
birch,^ white and brown ash,'* intermixed with 
evergreens, of which hemlock^ predominated; 
spruce^ and cedar'' were also found, and in some 
swampy places, hackmatack.® Red oak,^ of a good 
quality, was found on some of the high hills, and 
along the banks of the river. The margin of the 
river was lined with trees of various kinds, and the 
intervales were covered with the white and sugar 
maple, the elm,''' the birch, the butternut,^' and the 
basswood;'^ balm of Gilead and poplars'^ were 

iFagUB feruginea; 'Acer saccharinum; 'Betula excelsa, B. 
papyracea; <Fraxinus americana, F. sambucifolia ; * Abies cana- 
densis; * Abies alba and A. nigra; 'Thuja occidentalis ; ^ Larix 
americana; • Quercus rubra; *° Ulmus americana; '^Juglans 
cinerea ; '^ Tilia americana ; ^^^ Populus tremuloides and P. can- 
dieans* 

6 



58 THE HISTORY OF NORRmGEWOCK. 

found in some places. The most of the pine and 
oak timber was taken off many years ago by the 
pioneers in the lumbering business, in the early set- 
tlement of the town. 

There is an excellent granite quarry on Dodlin 
hill, on the south line of the town, from which 
large quantities are taken yearly for building. 
Limestone is found in considerable extent, suitable 
for agricultural purposes. It has been used for 
building; but most of that which has yet been 
burnt contains a mixture of slate. It is probable 
that when the surface stone is removed, the lime- 
stone will be free from this impurity. 



- y^i ■»■. 




S^ '4^,' \f( 



CHAPTER IV 



SETTLEMENT OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Character of Settlers, — 1772, Warren explores the place, — 1773, 
Warren, Fletcher, Wood, Clark, Farrington, Crosby, Wilson, 
Waugh, McDonald, Fling-, Brown, Lamson, — 1774, Acci- 
dent, Seventy Lots selected, Revolutionary War, — 1776, Only 
ten settlers, — 1777, Clarke comes with his wife in a canoe, 
Gray, Martin, Thompson, — 1778, Spauldings, Paine, — 1779, 
Spauldings, Keiths, Perils of the first barrel of rum, — 1780, 
Moores, Witherell, Laughton, Vickerie, Richards, Warren, 
Tarbells, Shed, Withees, Adams, Smith, Nutting, Thompson, 
Patten, — 1781, Longleys, Sampson, Witham, Cooks, Pierces, 
Gilman, Farnsworth, Kidder, Squier, Rogers, Lancaster, 
Heald, Robbins. 

The first settlers of this town were mostly young 
men, whose robust constitutions had been formed 
by the hard services of the camp, in the army, and 
by breathing the bracing air of poverty in their 
youth. Inured to the toils of labor from their in- 
fancy, they depended upon their own exertion to 
make their way in the world. An axe and a gun, 
a knapsack of provisions, a blanket and a change 
of clothing, comprised the inventory of many of 
them. A canoe was sufficient to transport the fur- 
niture of those who had families. By such men 



60 THE HISTORY OF 

was this place explored and settled. The promise 
of having their land given to them for settling, was 
the inducement that excited them to penetrate the 
forest, remote from all the conveniences of life. A 
great part of the early settlers emigrated from Ash- 
by, Concord, Pepperel, Townsend, and that vicin- 
ity in Massachusetts, and the adjoining towns in 
New Hampshire. 

William Warren, of Ashby, explored this place 
for the purpose of settlement, in 1772. He built a 
log house that year, on the village lot, on the hill 
about forty rods north of the place where John S. 
Abbott's house now stands. This was the first 
house built within the limits of this town. He 
removed his family, in company with William 
Fletcher, into this house, in the spring of 1773. 
Fletcher lived in the house with Warren until he 
built a log cabin for himself, half a mile west of 
Warren's, on the Boardman lot, No. 77. Warren 
and Fletcher are regarded as the first settlers, 
though many others came about the same time to 
explore the country, four of whom remained and 
spent the winter in the place, and established them- 
selves as settlers. During the summer of that 
year, Oliver Wood, Esq., came and commenced 
clearing the lot where James B. Wood now Uves. 
He cleared a piece of ground and sowed it with 
rye, and the next year raised a good crop, behig the 
first grain that was raised in town. John Clark 
came at the same time, and commenced on the lot 
where Seth Cutler now lives. Abel Farrington, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 61 

the same summer, settled where Seth ParUn now 
lives. Seth Wyman commenced a settlement in 
this town, that year, but he afterwards gave it up, 
and removed to Canaan. Joel Crosby selected the 
lot now owned by J. and S. Bixby, did some work 
upon it, and induced Lovel Fairbrother to settle 
upon it, as a tenant under him. Oliver Wilson 
commenced his settlement where Levi Cutler now 
lives. During the same season, James Waugh, 
Esq., commenced preparing a farm at Little Nor- 
ridgewock, where James M. Hilton now lives. 
Waugh was married the next winter, and brought 
his wife to their home in the wilderness ; being the 
first settlers m what is now Starks. Morris Fling 
commenced at Old Point, and afterwards removed 
to Seven Mile Brook. James McDonald settled on 
the lot now owned by Nathan Wood. Thomas 
Brown and a Mr. Lamson also had taken up lots in 
1773. It was during the summer of this year, that 
"Black Jones" made his survey of Canaan Plan- 
tation, which extended into this town. 

On the 24th of April, 1774, Warren and Fletch- 
er, the first settlers, with Brown, McDonald and 
Lamson, were going down the river in a boat; 
when they were at the great eddy below Skowhe- 
gan Falls, they unfortunately upset their canoe, 
and all but Fletcher were drowned. An afflicting 
calamity for this infant and remote settlement, there 
being then but three or four other families in the 
town. Mrs. Warren with her children, and Mrs. 
6* 



62 THE HISTORY OF 

McDonald with a young child, removed to their 
friends in Massachusetts. 

During the summer of 1774, when Farrington 
had completed his survey, or plan, nearly every lot 
was taken up. It is stated that seventy lots were 
selected during that year by settlers, including 
those who had previously moved into the place. 
Most of those who selected lots were young men 
from Massachusetts, who had explored the country 
the year before. They made arrangements to move 
here the next year ; but the war of the Revolution 
broke out the next spring, and as most of them be- 
longed to the vicinity of Concord and Lexington, 
some were detached in the militia, at the Lexington 
fight and at the battle of Bunker Hill. Some after- 
wards enlisted in the army ; some were killed, and 
some died ; others were discouraged, and but few 
had sufiicient resolution to settle upon the lots they 
had taken up in that or the succeeding year. 

At the close of the year 1776, there were but ten 
settlers within the limits of Norridgewock; namely, 
William Fletcher, on the Boardman lot; Lovel 
Fairbrother, on the Bixby lot ; Ephraim Brown, on 
the lot next below the village; Sylvanus Sawyer 
and son, at Old Point; James Waugh, at Little 
Norridgewock; Abel Farrington, on the Parlin lot; 
Morris Fling, at Old Point — all of whom had fam- 
ilies — and Jonas Parlin, Nathan Parhn, and John 
Heald, who were single men. 

John Clark was one of the seventy who had select- 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 63 

ed lots in 1774, with the intention of settling in the 
place the next year; but he enlisted into the army, 
was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and served till 
discharged in 1776. He spent the summer of that 
year, and the summer of 1777, in making prepara- 
tions for a permanent settlement on the village lot, 
originally taken up by Warren, his brother-in-law, 
whose family had abandoned it. He went back to 
Massachusetts in the fall, was married, and remov- 
ed his wife to his log cabin in November, 1777. 
There being no road that was passable, their only 
communication up and down the river, was by 
water, in canoes, in the summer, and with hand- 
sleds, on the ice, in winter. When he removed, 
late in November, he came from Hallowell with his 
wife and furniture, in a canoe, amidst snow and 
ice. Clark had made better preparation than most 
of the settlers, before he married and removed his 
wife here. He had raised corn sufficient to supply 
his family with bread for a year, had carried a 
canoe load to Winslow to mill, and had stored his 
meal in his camp for his winter's supply, before he 
left the place to go after his wife. But the more 
destitute settlers borrowed all liis meal, so that he 
was compelled to live for some time after he re- 
turned, on pounded corn, of which they made hom- 
mony and coarse bread, till the river became passa- 
ble on the ice, so that he could go to mill. 

During this year, Oliver Wilson settled where 
Levi Cutler now lives; but he afterwards removed 
to Sandy river, and the lot was given to Rev. Eze- 



64 



THti HISTORY OF 



kiel Emerson, who lived on it four years. George 
Gray settled at the upper part of the town, and 
afterwards removed to Starks. Benjamin Thomp- 
son, who Hved a hermit, dying in old age, unmar- 
ried, settled on the lot now owned by Charles 
Norton, opposite J. S. Abbott's. Moses Martin set- 
tled on the lot now owned by Nathan Wood. He 
afterwards removed to Sabasticook, where he is still 
living. 

In 1778, Eleazer Spaulding, a member of the 
committee of the home government, removed here 
with his four sons, Eleazer, Josiah, John and Seth. 
He acted as a resident agent for the settlers, and 
gave them much assistance in establishing their 
claims to obtain deeds, when they had performed 
settling duties. The proprietors had full confidence 
in him as an agent, and gave him the first lot above 
Skowhegan Falls, without requiring settling duties, 
to reward him for his services. Having sold this 
lot to Daniel Steward, he settled with his son Elea- 
zer, on the farm now occupied by Sewall Nutting. 
His son, Josiah Spaulding, settled on the lot where 
he now lives. He has been long known as a wor- 
th}^ citizen, and after the incorporation of the town, 
till age began to impair his usefulness, he was one 
of the principal men in the place. He has served 
as selectman, nineteen years, and as representative 
to the Massachusetts Legislatiu'e. Still retaining 
his faculties to a remarkable degree, he is always 
pleasant, mild and social, enjoying the smiles of 
Providence, and the bounty of the government, as 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 65 

a pensioner, having served his country part of two 
years in the Revolutionary war, before he came to 
this place. He is now eighty-eight years old. 
John Spaulding settled on the lot now occupied by 
Robert Richards, which was first taken up by Oli- 
ver Coburn, and occupied by Abraham Moore, who 
removed to part of the Nutting lot, and thence to 
Piscataquis. Mr. Spaulding lived on the lot about 
twenty years, before he removed. Seth Spaulding 
settled on the lot above the Turner brook, where 
he lived some twenty years, and then removed. 
Eleazer Spaulding, Jr., also removed to Piscataquis, 
after the death of his father. During this year, John 
Paine settled on lot No. 11^ called the Gould lot, 
and his son, William Paine, settled on tlie Dinsmore 
loi No. 76, on the west side of the river. 

In 1779, William Spaulding settled on lot, No. 
Ib^ below the village, and his son, William Spaul- 
ding, Esq., settled on lot No. 71, where he lived to 
old age. When he first arrived, he could not obtain 
a potato to plant nearer than James Waugh's, at 
Little Norridgewock, a distance of ten miles by the 
river. He borrowed a canoe to go after a few 
bushels, and had a hard day's work to get there, 
dragging his heavy canoe over Bombazee falls 
alone. He could obtain but three bushels, for 
which he agreed to give three days' work at hay- 
ing. When he returned to the ferry with his pota- 
toes, he consented to let Mr. Clark have one bushel, 
on condition that he should help dig them in the 
fall, and give him half. This bushel of potatoes 



66 THE HISTORY OF 

was planted where the Sawtelle house now stands, 
in the village, and produced a noble crop. Spaul- 
ding's half furnished him with seed the next year ; 
he never failed, afterwards, to raise a good supply, 
as long as he was able to labor, and always had po- 
tatoes to sell. He was a stout, energetic man, 
made a good farm, raised up a large family, sus- 
tained several important offices in the town, county 
and State, the duties of which he discharged with 
fidelity, accumulated a good estate, and died, Dec. 
1844, at the advanced age of 87. 

About this time, Maj. Zephania Keith settled on 
part of the Nutting lot. He was considerably ad- 
vanced in life, a man of intelligence, and much 
respected. One of his sons had been an officer in 
the army, and after the war, was an Adjutant Gen- 
eral in the Massachusetts militia. He had four 
other sons, who lived in this place many years, but 
having been brought up as workmen in the iron 
works at Easton and Bridgewater, Mass., and un- 
accustomed to the toils and privations of new 
settlers, none of the family succeeded so as to be- 
come permanent residents. The father, Maj. Keith, 
was one of the selectmen first chosen, but the fam- 
ily all left the town soon after. Scott Keith, one of 
the sons, attempted to trade, being the first trader 
in the place. He built for this purpose a log house, 
on the intervale above Bombazee rips, procured a 
few articles of merchandise, and, among other 
things, a barrel of rum, at Hallowell, and employed 
an active, resolute young man to go after his goods 



TVORRIDGEWOCK. 67 

with a canoe. His man succeeded in getting up 
the river, with trifling assistance, to the place where 
Kendall's mills now are, and then employed a skill- 
ful boatman to assist him up the rips, and over the 
falls. They then took the middle of the river, in- 
stead of warping the boat along the shore, as was 
customary, till they arrived at Skowhegan falls, 
without landing. Ascending the narrows below 
the falls, where the river, compressed to one half its 
usual width, is bounded by perpendicular precipices 
on each side, for more than half a mile, they landed 
without accident, and warped their canoe, without 
unloading, up the south channel, and over the falls. 
They soon arrived at Bombazee falls, where they 
at first hesitated, but decided to trust to their pad- 
dles, and with unparalleled eiforts went up the 
middle channel, a fall of six feet, without accident, 
where a single mis-stroke of the paddle would have 
capsized them, and landed the rum and other mer- 
chandise in safety at the trader's camp. This feat 
is narrated as a specimen of the risk, toil and ex- 
posure of life, in getting up and down the river by 
Avater. A witness of this exploit is still living. 
Mr. Keith, not having so much skill and persever- 
ance as his boatmen had exhibited, soon failed. 

In 1780, Major John Moore, who had been an 
officer in the army, came to this place in his uni- 
form, Avith epaulettes and insignia of rank, and 
excited considerable attention by his dress and ad- 
dress. He had four sons, who came with him. 
Having lost his wife, he married Mrs. Weston, the 



68 THE HISTORY OF 

widow of Joseph Weston, the first settler in Ca- 
naan, and settled on the lot where Reuel Weston 
now lives. He was a man of more than ordinary 
talents, was respected for his intelligence and activ- 
ity, and was a useful citizen. A financial report of 
the town affairs, in 1791, was drawn up by him, in 
a correct, business-like manner, and remains on the 
files of the town papers. When the militia in the 
vicinity was organized, he was chosen Colonel, and 
was esteemed as an officer and a gentleman. He 
purchased a large lot, on which North Anson vil- 
lage is situated, and removed there. His brother, 
Benjamin Moore, settled on the lot now owned by 
John G. Neil. He too was a soldier, and afterwards 
a pensioner. His son, Goff Moore, who is still liv- 
ing, bought out John Heald, who had settled on 
the Currier lot, where he lived till 1795 ; then he 
exchanged with Lovell Fairbrother, for a farm in 
Madison, where he now resides, a Revolutionary 
pensioner. Fairbrother having lived at Madison 
several years, by this exchange became again a 
citizen of this town. He raised up a large family, 
but one of whom is now living. He was for a long 
time called Governor Fairbrother. 

Abraham Moore, an active, intelligent man, set- 
tled first on the Nutting lot, then removed to the 
Richards lot, and from thence, many years ago, he 
removed to Abbott, where he died. John and Joseph 
Moore, the Major's other sons, lived here with their 
father many years, removed to Anson, and are both 
dead. They were the principal men of that town, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 69 

for many years. One of them was a Representa- 
tive, Senator, and an Elector of President, during 
the active period of his life. Obadiah Witherell, 
who had been a Lieutenant in the army, came to 
this place in his regimentals, about the same time 
as Major Moore. He was an active, enterprising 
young man, was married soon after he came here, 
and settled upon the back road, where he made him 
a good farm. He, too, afterwards became a Major 
in the militia, and was an active, intelligent officer. 
He was several times one of the selectmen of the 
town. As a pensioner, he received under the dif- 
ferent pension acts, money and land to the amount 
of five thousand dollars, before he died. At the 
latter part of his life he removed to Albion, where 
he died, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. 
This year, John Laughton settled on lot No. 70. 
He was a carpenter by trade, and a useful man. 
He volunteered to assist in building a house for the 
first minister in Norridgewock. Joseph Vickerie, 
about the same time, settled on lot No. 75, on which 
William Spaulding, Senior, lived, one of whose 
daughters he married. He was an excellent car- 
penter and house-joiner, and worked at his trade 
till old age. He was the principal workman on all 
the houses built for thirty or forty years. Samuel 
Richards, who had been an ofiicer in the army, set- 
tled on the back road about this time. He was a 
resolute person, and one of his sons is still living in 
this town. Josiah Warren, Jonas Tarbell, Joseph 
Tarbell, Amos Shed, Nathaniel, William, Luke and 

7 



70 THE HISTORY OF 

Uzziel Withee, Amos Adams, Samuel Nutting, John 
Smith, James and Hugh Thompson, and Samuel 
Patten, all settled about this time in the northeast 
part of the town, on lots marked E^ F\ G, J3, /„ 
K, L, and M, and on th© back end of the front 
lots. 

In 1781, Deacon Longley and sons settled on lots 
C and D. LeTi Sampson and Charles Witherelly 
on lots A and B. Benjamin Witham, on lot No, 
80, west of the river. Thomas Cook, on lot No, 
79, John Cook, on No. 78. Thomas Whitcomb 
and Moriah Gould, on lots Nos. 71 and 72. David 
and Simon Pierce, on lots Nos. 68 and 69, south of 
the river. Doct. Gilman settled where Josiah But- 
ler, Esq. now lives.^^Teter Farnsworth, on the lot 
where his son, WlUiam Farnsworth, now lives, 
Isaac Kidder, where his son, Isaac Kidder, lives. 
Peter Gilman, on the lot adjoining Mr. Kidder's, 
John Squier, John Rogers and David Lancaster, on 
the river road, below Mr. Farnsworth's, All about 
the close of the war. 

The mill lot was first taken up hy Walker, in 
1775 ; but being unable to build mills^ it was, in 
1776, given up to Timothy Heald, who then lived 
in Winslow. He commenced building mills, but 
did not get them in operation till late in 1778. He 
then removed his family ; and his son, the late Josi- 
ah Heald, was long known as the miller. The 
father did not live long after his removal to this 
place. One of his sons, Thomas Heald, is still liv- 
ing, a Revolutionary pensioner. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 71 

Jonathan Robbins settled first in Canaan, and 
after this town was incorporated, he purchased 
lands in three or four different places in the town. 
He lived several years on the lot where John S. 
Abbott now lives, and then removed to Oak Hill. 
He was a resolute, persevering man, sustained a 
good reputation, was at first a member of the Con- 
gregational church, and afterwards a Baptist. He 
lived to old age, respected for strict integrity. Sev- 
eral others resided but a short time in the place, and 
then removed higher up the river, or made ex- 
changes, so that I he times and places of their resi- 
dence are not known with -certainty. 

Notwithstanding the hardships, privations and 
exposures of the first settlers in a new place, they 
have much to animate and encourage them, which 
none but those who have been partakers in like 
scenes can fully appreciate. The hope of obtain- 
ing a freehold on which they can support their ris- 
ing family, cheers on those who have been compelled 
to work on hire for their daily bread. The process 
of cutting down trees, and clearing the land, is in 
itself delightful. When the first tree is fallen, the 
axeman can look up through the opening, as 
through a window in the forest, and see the blue 
sky. As he enlarges the space, the view is extend- 
ed, until he looks out on the surrounding hills, and 
sees where others, in like manner, are beginning, or 
may soon commence, the work of clearing. When 
the trees are sufficiently dry to apply the fire, the 
burning of his "cut down" furnishes a splendid 



72 



THE HISTORY OF 



display of fire-works. If he gets a good bura, the 
change in the appearance of his lot is striking, and 
but little labor iis required to prepare the field for 
planting. A good crop of corn is obtained without 
weeding, and without clearing off the half-burnt 
logs. At harvest, he views his crops with satisfac- 
tion, and makes preparation for sowing his field 
with wheat, by piling up the logs and burning them 
upon the ground. Every blow he strikes, and 
every log he consumes leaves marks of improve- 
ment. And when his new fields of corn and wheat 
furnish a supply for the wants of his family, as they 
generally do the second year, the sight of his wav- 
ing grain and golden ears sends a thrill of gratitude 
to his heart. His log cabin has been made so as to 
exclude the rain and the cold, and is made comfort- 
able by the large fire of wood, which costs nothing. 
On a winter evening, he can enjoy his family circle, 
around the fire, and sleep as warm as in a ceiled 
house. To be sure, the food of the pioneer is 
coarse, and sometimes scanty. But his appetite, 
sharpened by labor and the salubrity of the forest, 
gives him a relish for his simple fare, that the epi- 
cure never enjoys; and if his allowance, at present, 
is short, he can look forward with confidence, as 
his field is every year enlarging, that his wants will 
soon be supplied. If neighbors are few and far be- 
tween, whenever they do see each other, they enjoy 
the interview with heartfelt satisfaction. Thus 
they enjoy much to recompense them for their toil 
and hardship. 



NORRIDOEWOCK. 73 

Many who commence with nothing, in a short 
time acquire a competency, and accumulate a good 
estate. They raise up large families, live comfort- 
ably to old age, on good farms, with everything 
convenient about them, honored and esteemed by 
their fellow citizens, and die in the faith, with the 
hope of a better state beyond the grave. The no- 
ble-spirited women who first penetrated the forests 
of the Kennebeck with their husbands, were as 
much gratified on their arrival at their log cabins, 
with the prospects and scenery around them, as a 
village belle would be, on her marriage, when re- 
moving to the splendid mansion of an only son, 
inheriting a large estate, with all the equipage of 
luxury and ease. Many now living have heard 
their mothers tell of the comfort they enjoyed in 
their new log house, when their little clearing pro- 
duced a supply of good corn, wheat and vegetables. 
Their cows, which ran in the woods in the summer, 
and were kept on meadow hay and corn-stalks in 
the winter, supplied them with milk and butter. 
They could raise their own pork. The surrounding 
maples furnished them with sugar; the river afibrd- 
ed fish, and the forest game. They were then as 
contented and happy as in after life, when their 
goods were increased, so that they lived in afliu- 
ence, in a good farm-house, with barns, herds of 
cattle, flocks of sheep, and everything in abundance. 
The boys enjoyed the sport, in hunting small game 
and partridges. One family killed sixty partridges 



74 THE HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCB:. 

the first winter they lived m the woods, which fui - 
nished them with many a good dinner. 

No prudent man removed his family, till he hac 
made preparation, by felling five or six acres ol 
trees, and having them burnt over, so that he could 
raise a crop of corn, the season when he removed. 
The trees should be cut about the last of June ; the 
limbs and small branches dry so as to burn better 
than if cut at any other time. A good crop cannot 
be expected, if the opening be less than four or five 
acres. To fell five acres requires two weeks work: 
nothing more is necessary to be done, until the 
trees are dry enough to burn the next spring. The 
first dry week in May should be improved in burn- 
ing, and the ground may then be planted, a log 
house built, and the family removed, so as to be 
there at harvest. Those who pursued this course, 
among our first settlers, hardly ever failed of suc- 
cess; but those who came with their families, with- 
out having made any preparation, were subjected 
to much want and hardship. The land which is 
the most easily cleared, dry, and of hard wood 
growth, is the most profitable for a beginning. 

All lived in log cabins, until a saw-mill was put 
in operation; and then they generally found it 
necessary to build a barn before they built a house, 
in order to secure their crops. A log house, when 
well built, could be made quite comfortable. 



CHAPTER V 



Arnold's March through Norridgewock, Parlin enlists, Extract 
from the Journal of Dr. Senter, Parlin is taken prisoner, Fear 
of Indians, Guard, False Alarm, Sufferings of Hunters, Hard- 
ships and Exposures, Death of Walton and Wood, Sufferings 
of Forbes and family, Improved condition of Settlers, Taxes 
by Winslow, Law-suits, Incorporation of the town. 

At the commencement of the Revohitionary war, 
Gen. Arnold was ordered to march a detachment of 
the American forces to Quebec, by way of the Ken- 
nebeckj and, if possible, to make himself master of 
that city. The detachment consisted of ten com- 
panies of infantry belonging to New England, and 
three companies of riflemen from Virginia and 
Pennsylvania, amounting to about eleven hundred 
men. The first of October, 1775, the army passed 
through Norridgewock, with their artillery and 
stores. The General stopped at Thomas Farring- 
ton's, where he saw the first child born of English 
parents in the place; this was Abel Farrington, 
then fourteen months old. The mother died soon 
after, and was buried near the river, on the Parlin 



76 THE HisTORY OF 

farm. The General also spent one night at Lovell 
Fairbrother's. The settlers volunteered to assist in 
getting the boats, artillery and stores over Norridge- 
wock falls ; James Wangh, Esq., assisted with his 
oxen — there were then no other oxen in the settle- 
ment. Nathan Parlin enlisted as a boatman, and 
went through to Canada. 

Extract from the Journal of Isaac SenMr, Physician 
and Surgeon in Arnold^ s detachment.^ 

" Wednesday^ [Oct.} 4 — As the rapids [of TFas- 
sarunskeig] afforded but a tedious route of three 
miles by water round, I chose rather to take the 
advantage of the carrying places, which was two 
and a half miles only ; accordingly I had boat and 
baggage carried over by land to the foot of the 
falls, where we were obliged to put in and cross 
over the opposite side, ere we could carry by the 
falls. These were a very high water fall, and ex- 
ceeding difficult carrying by. After backing all the 
boats, provisions, camp equipage, te., over, we 
again advanced up the river. Not far had we ad- 
vanced, ere we came to a fall called Scunkhegon. 
With a great deal of difficulty we passed this, but 
not without coming very nigh losing one of my 
hands. After passing these, I proceeded about half 
a mile and tented. 

" Thursday^ 5. — We were now within about four 
and a half miles of Norrigewalk, where I left the 

* Published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 77 

charge of my batteaux to my lads, and proceeded 
up the river by land, till within about half a mile, 
where I contracted with a couple of savages who 
followed the army, to take charge of the boat, in 
consequence of the water growing exceeding rapid. 
They conducted her safe to the foot of the Norrige- 
walk fall, where they were (that is, the batteaux) 
all hauled up. We had now a number of teams 
employed in conveying the batteaux, provisions? 
camp equipage, &c., over this carrying place. By 
this time, many of our batteaux were nothing but 
wrecks, some stove to pieces, &c. The carpenters 
were employed in repairing them, while the rest of 
the army were busy in carrying over the provisions, 
&c. A quantity of dry cod fish, by this time was 
received, as likewise a number of barrels of dry 
bread. The fish lying loose in the batteaux, and 
being continually washed with the fresh water run- 
ning into the batteaux. The bread casks not being 
water-proof, admitted the water in plenty, swelled 
the bread, burst the casks, as well as soured the 
whole bread. The same fate attended a number of 
fine casks of peas. These with the others were 
condemned. We were now curtailed of a very 
valuable and large part of our provisions, ere we 
had entered the wilderness, or left the inhabitants. 
Our fare was now reduced to salt pork and flour. 
Beef we had now and then, when we could 
purchase a fat creature, but that was seldom. A 
few barrels of salt beef remained on hand, but of 
so indifferent quality, as scarce to be eaten, being 



78 THE HISTORY OF 

killed in the heat of summer, took much damage 
after salting, that rendered it not only very im- 
wholesome, but very unpalatable. 

'■'• Friday ^ 6th. — Several of our army continued 
to be troubled with the dysentery, of which disease, 
Capt. Williams, a gentleman from Connecticut, 
came nigh to lose his life. Continued getting over 
provisions, &c. Weather mostly cloudy, and con- 
siderable rain. 

^^ Saturday^ 7th. — We were still at Norrigewalk, 
where was now most of the army. By a council 
of the officers, it was thought advisable to send let- 
ters into Quebec, informing some gentlemen of that 
city of our movements, &c. After the despatches 
were wrote, it was concluded to send one Mr. Jack- 
quith, inhabitant of this river and native of Ger- 
many, who spoke the French language, in company 
with two Penobscot Indians, by name Sabattis and 
Enneos,* who were well acquainted with the wil- 
derness through, as well as the inhabitants of the 
country where they were going. Accordingly they 
were despatched in a bark canoe, taking a sufficient 
quantity of provisions for the purpose. 

^^ Sunday, 8th. — Our provisions were now all 
over, and had it not been for the inclemency of the 
weather, we should [have] decampt. No occur- 
rences of note this day. 

" Monday, 9th. — Early this morn we were all in 
motion, and bid good bye to old Norrigewalk. I 

"1 * Henry's Campaign, pp. 32 to 35. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 79 

ordered my lads on board of the batteaux, and took 
foot bail. We proceeded up the river to the 7 mile 
stream, so called, which was about six miles from 
our last stage. Swift current — made but poor 
speed — exceeding load. After coming to the 7 
mile stream, I betook myself to my boat, and con- 
tinued our progress about three miles further, where 
we encamped. Much indisposed this day." 

The detachment suffered severely for want of 
provisions, on their way through the wilderness. 
From Dead river. Col. Enos returned with the sick 
and the whole rear division of the army, in order 
to avoid the horrors of famine. They had but 
three days' provision, when they set out to return. 
The rest of the detachment pressed on through 
dangers and sufferings. Having consumed their 
provisions, they fed upon roots or anything that 
could appease the cravings of hunger. The late 
Gen. Dearborn was a captain in the expedition, and 
shared with the others in the privations of the 
march. He had a large dog, which was a great 
favorite; at the earnest solicitation of one of the 
companies, he gave him up to them. They killed 
the dog, and divided him among those who were 
suffering most severely. Every part was eaten. 
They collected the bones, after finishing their meal, 
and carried them to be pounded up for another re- 
past. Some washed their moccasins of moose 
skin, and boiled them to obtain a little nutriment, 



80 THE HISTORY OF 

and many died of fatigue and hunger, before they 
reached the settlements in Canada. The expedi- 
tion failed of success. Parlin was taken a prisoner 
with others at Quebec. The next year he \yas 
exchanged, and returned by way of Albany. After 
the failure of the expedition, the Canadians who 
before had appeared friendly and disposed to aid 
our cause, became cautious and hostile. 

During the winter of 1776, Roger Chase and a 
Mr. Noble, two hunters belonging on the Kenne- 
beck, were taken prisoners by Canadian hunters 
and Indians, who carried them to Quebec; but 
they were discharged after an examination before 
the English officers. Our people thereupon became 
alarmed, for fear of an incursion of the Indians, 
and proceeded to fortify themselves. They built 
a block house, adjoining Mr. Fletcher's dwelling 
house; both of these buildings were enclosed with 
posts eight feet high, set ni the ground. To this 
place all the women and children living within 
four miles were removed. A regular volunteer 
guard was organised to keep watch in the night 
lime, during the summer of 1776. The families 
who lived remote from the block house were re- 
moved to places of safety, down the river, where 
they remained that summer, returned and spent 
the winter, and were again removed in the sum- 
mer following. In June, 1777, the Legislature 
made provision for a guard. Col. William Howard 
isssued this warrant and enlisting order : 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



81 



" To Mr. James Wmigh^ of a place called Nor- 
ridgeivock^ 07i Keiineheck river : — 

"By virtue of the power in me vested by the 
Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay, 
per their Resolve, dated June 28, 1777, I appoint 
you, the said James Waugh, to be sergeant and 
commander of a party of six men, including your- 
self, to be employed in scouting up the Kennebeck 
river, from the date hereof until the first day of 
December, unless sooner discharged, and they are 
hereby commanded to obey you in all your lawful 
commands ; and you are likewise to obey the orders 
you shall from time to time receive from me. 

''Given under my hand and seal, at Hallowell, 
this second day of August, A. D. 1777. 

"William Howard, L. CoV 

ENLISTMENT. 

" We, the subscribers, do hereby severally enlist 
ourselves into the service of Massachusetts Bay, to 
continue in that service from the date hereof till the 
first day of December next, unless sooner dis- 
charged ; for which we are each of us to be allowed 
and paid out of the public treasury of said State, 
forty shillings per calendar month, also six shillings 
per week each, for our subsistence; and we promise 
faithfully to obey all such orders as we shall from 
time to time receive from our ofiicers. 

" Nathan Parlin, George Gray, John Heald, 
Luke Sawyer, Oliver Wilson." 

8 



82 THE HISTORY OF 

Mr. Wangh kept a regular journal of their ser- 
vices. They went np the river to the carrying 
place several times, but they discovered no enemy. 
Part of the guard were employed at the block 
house, and at the expiration of their term of enlist- 
ment, they were discharged. 

• The fear of the Indians did not wholly subside 
for a year afterwards. Several settlers had com- 
menced an establishment at Seven Mile Brook, (so 
called, being seven miles above Old Point.) Some 
time having elapsed without any tidings from this 
settlement, the inhabitants of this town and Ca- 
naan were alarmed for their safety, as several In- 
dian hunters were known to be up the river. A 
meeting was called, and it was resolved to send a 
delegation to see if there was any cause of alarm. 
Samuel Weston and Isaac Smith, of Canaan, and 
Oliver Wilson, of Norridgewock, volunteered to go^ 
They went up the river in a canoe, proceeding 
cautiously as they approached their place of destin- 
ation, and when they came to the bend of the river 
nearly opposite the mouth of Seven Mile Brook, 
they thought it more prudent for Weston and Smith 
to leave the canoe, and approach by land under 
cover of the trees and bushes^ all agreeing not to 
fire a gun, unless they saw Indians. In a few mo- 
ments after they separated, Wilson discovered a 
bear in the river, and regardless of the order of the 
day, fired at him, thinking he could call to his 
comrades and let them know the cause of his firing. 
Alarmed at the report of the gun, and hearing 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 83 

Wilson call to them, they concluded that he was 
attacked, if not mortally wounded by the Indians, 
and without stopping to ascertain the truth, they 
fled in a direct line, through the woods, to the set- 
tlement in this place. Alarm was given, and a 
council held, when a messenger was forthwith 
despatched to Pownalborough, near sixty miles, to 
Gen. Lithgow for aid — assuring him that they 
were in momentary apprehension of being all de- 
stroyed by the Indians. The General ordered out 
his regiment, and some men had actually com- 
menced their march before the cause of the alarm 
was ascertained. Mr. Clark dissented from the 
other members of the council, and advised them to 
wait till they knew more about the case, be- 
fore they sent for help. He volunteered to go and 
find Wilson, and went alone as far as Old Point, 
where he found Wilson safe, and learned that their 
friends at Seven Mile Brook had not been molested. 
This farce proved so ridiculous, that the principal 
actors were heartily ashamed of their alarm. Mr. 
Smith, when over eighty years of age, was unwil- 
ling to own that he was much frightened. No 
serious apprehensions of danger from the Indians 
were entertained after this. But during this period 
of alarm, the settlers suffered much from their fears. 
Mrs. W' augh, the widow of the first settler at Little 
Norridgewock, stated a few years since that the fear 
of Indians, when with her child she was carried in 
a canoe to Vassalborough, in 1776, and with two 
children, in 1777, and when, in 1778, she remained 



84 THE HISTORY OF 

at their log cabin, exceeded all other sufferings and 
hardships she endured during those years, when 
their cabin was the only habitation at Little Nor- 
ridge wock. 

Provisions were obtained with much difficulty by 
the new settlers, for many years. No regular sup- 
ply could be obtained nearer than Hallovvell ; and 
from that place only by canoes and hand-sleds, or 
by packmen. To supply their deficiency, the 
moose was hunted, from Moosehead Lake to Mount 
Abram and the Blue Mountain, a circuit of sixty 
miles, and at the distance of forty miles from any 
inhabitants. Hunting parties were frequently ab- 
sent three weeks. A single instance will give some 
idea of the fatigue of hunting. In the cold winter 
of 1781, a party killed several moose on Blue 
Mountain, about fifty miles distant, and came for 
help to bring home the meat, which they had de- 
posited in the snow. William Spaulding, Esq.. 
then an athletic young man, with three others, 
went on snow-shoes, with hand-sleds, to bring in the 
game. They went up the river on the ice to Old 
Point, thence up the windings of Sandy river to 
Meseccontee, now Farmington Falls, thence up 
Wilson's stream to the ponds at its source, over the 
ponds and hills to the place of deposit. They found 
the meat in good condition, and each took from two 
to three hundred pounds on his sled, and started 
for home. As they had found their course obstruct- 
ed by windfalls, and as the hills and precipices 
along AVilson's stream were so steep that it would 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 85 

be impracticable to return with their loads by that 
route, they struck off over the hills of what is now 
Temple, to Titcomb's mill stream, which they fol- 
lowed down to Sandy river, four miles above the 
falls, and thence followed the river to its mouth. 
There was then no settler above Little Norridge- 
wock, on the Sandy river. They passed down the 
Kennebec k, and arrived home on the sixth day — 
having suffered from the cold and fatigue, camping 
out each night. 

About the same time, Mr. Walton, who lived a 
mile below Skowhegan falls, perished when return- 
ing with his hand-sled from a hunting excursion. 
It appeared by his tracks when found, that in his 
efforts to reach home he became exhausted, when 
he arrived within half a mile of his house, lost off 
one of his shoes and his snow-shoe, and wandered 
about bewildered in the dark, some time before he 
perished. 

In March, 1784, Abel Wood, son of Oliver Wood, 
Esq., and Amos Fletcher, father of Col. Fletcher, 
of Skowhegan, two young men, about eighteen 
years of age, started from this place with hand- 
sleds, on the ice, to carry supplies to their friends at 
Carratunk. They were impeded somewhat by the 
cold wind which blew in their faces, and met with 
difRculty in passing by Carratunk falls, where they 
got very wet. Night overtook them when within a 
mile or two of the camps; Wood became so ex- 
hausted that he could proceed no further, and 
dropped down upon the snow. Fletcher too was on 
8* 



86 THE HISTORY OF 

the poiat of giving up, being so overcome with 
sleep that he had hardly strength to move his 
limbs; but he exerted himself to the utmost of his 
power, knowing that his life was at stake, and 
succeeded in reaching an Indian camp near his 
friends. They were rallied, and came back for 
Wood, whom they found dead. 

Mr. Robert Forbes,* having resided several 
years in Canada, determined to remove to the 
United States, to live once more with his own 
countrymen. Three Dutchmen, by the names of 
MidstafT, Pancake, and Christian, engaged to con- 
duct them in twelve days to the settlements on the 
Kennebeck. On the I7th day of March, 1784, they 
started upon their unfortunate journey. The men, 
Mrs. Forbes, and the oldest son John, about four- 
teen years of age, were upon snow-shoes. Their 
provisions and four young children were to be 
d-rawn upon hand-sleds. The youngest child was 
but fifteen months old. They took their depart- 
ure from Nouvelle Bois, on the Chaudiere, and 
pursued their way for eight days with great diffi- 
culty. On the ninth day they were obliged to leave 
the river on which they had traveled, and now 
found the country so broken, rough and mountain- 
ous, that they thought it impossible to proceed with 
their sleds. After consultation, they built a camp 
for the women and children, and taking most of 

* This account is taken from a narrative of the sufferings of 
Mr. Robert Forbes and family, compiled by Arthur Bradman^ 
Portland, printed at Thos. Baker Wait's office, MDCCXCI. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 87 

their provisions and baggage, went in quest of Mi- 
conick pond, otherwise called lake Chaudiere, ex- 
pecting to return the next day; but they did not 
reach the pond till the afternoon of the next day. 
There they encamped, and the next morning, hav- 
ing deposited their baggage, they crossed the pond 
to find an Indian who resided there; they found an 
uninhabited camp, where they spent the night. 
Next morning, they recrossed the pond to the place 
where they left their baggage. Here Midstaff and 
his companions, taking the provisions and the most 
valuable goods, told Forbes the}'- should not return 
with him to his family, but they should now leave 
him, and make the best of their way to the Kenne- 
beck. And in spite of his tears and entreaties, they 
left him with only one poor axe, a musket, and two 
small loaves of bread. With a heavy heart he 
made his way back to his family, with the sorrow- 
ful tidings. His wife and son had suffered the 
most fearful apprehensions, when he did not return 
at the appointed time. 

They were now in the most doubtful perplexity, 
whether to go back or forward. But fearing that 
it would take them more than twice the time to re- 
turn to Canada, they had spent in getting thus far, 
and as the Chaudiere was now breaking up, they 
resolved, by the help of God, to proceed on their 
journey. The way was rough, and they traveled 
but a short distance on Monday, the first day, and 
encamped for the night. The next morning, there 
came on a violent storm of rain and snow, which 



THE HISTORY OF 



continued two days. The family did not reach the 
pond till Friday evening. Soon after, they met 
with the Indian, who treated them kindly, con- 
ducted them to his camp, and supplied them with 
provisions. He had just killed a moose, and 
Forbes and his son assisted him in bringing it to 
the camp. The Indian gave them as much of the 
meat as they would undertake to carry, and piloted 
them to the Kennebeck river, and would have pro- 
ceeded to the settlements, but his wife was sick, 
and he dared not longer be absent from her. They 
thanked him for his kindness, and rewarded him 
with some of their goods. He marked the way on 
a piece of bark, representing the bends, falls, and 
carrying places on the river, and then wished them 
well, and left them. On the 12th of April, their 
provisions were again exhausted, and Mrs. Forbes 
thought it best to have a camp built for herself and 
children, while her husband and oldest son should 
go forward to find the settlements. 

They accordingly started forward, and the first 
two days, finding the ice would bear them, they 
traveled on the river, and made good progress ; but 
mistaking their way at a carrying place, instead of 
leaving the river and crossing the land to the next 
bend, which was only twelve miles, they followed 
the river sixty miles round. A little before night, 
they came to the falls, and could go no further on 
the ice. The next day, they crossed the river at a 
shoal, rocky place, and were obliged to encamp for 
the rest of the day, on account of a storm. The 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



89 



next day, they traveled on, and finding the river 
free from ice, they built a raft and undertook to 
navigate the river, a business with which they were 
httle acquainted. The current was rapid, and they 
could not manage their raft; after they started, it 
struck against a tree, which they cut away to clear 
themselves. Passing the rapids, the water dashed 
over them, keeping them constantly wet. About 
the middle of the day, moving with great rapidity, 
they struck a large rock, and one end of the raft 
parted, and it was spread out into a single line of 
logs. At this time they lost their axe, and found it 
difficult to keep upon the broken fragments of their 
raft. They were now forced along rapidly by the 
current, expecting every moment would be their 
last. At length, they fell into an eddy and suc- 
ceeded in getting safely on shore. They now trav- 
eled by land till their strength was almost exhaust- 
ed. About the 20th of April, they were cheered by 
the report of a gun. They fired several times, but 
received no answer ; they now supposed that it was 
nothing but a falling tree, and moved on with 
heavy hearts. On the evening of the 22d, having 
built a fire on a hill, they were discovered by two 
hunters, who supplied their wants and conducted 
them to the settlement at Seven Mile Brook. 

It was now the tenth day since they left Mrs. 
Forbes and the children ; they had eaten the few 
ounces of meat they had taken with them, and 
their moccasins, having had nothing else to subsist 
upon. On arriving at the settlement, they were so 



90 THE HISTORY OF 

weak that they were scarcely able to stand. Three 
men were immediately despatched for the relief of 
Mrs. Forbes and the children, who returned after 
having been absent thirteen days, without finding 
them. Though so long time had passed, and all 
supposed that the family were dead, Mr. Forbes in- 
duced two men to start with him for the place 
where they had been left. On the 28th of May 
they started, and after traveling one day, Mr. 
Forbes was unable to keep up with the others, and 
they left him to return. On the 2d day of June 
they reached the place, and to their great astonish- 
ment they found the mother and one of the chil- 
dren alive. It was now fifty days since they were 
left with nothing but a pound and a half of moose 
meat, and a pound and a half of tallow, for their 
subsistence. They had nothing else to subsist upon 
but cold water and the inside bark of the fir tree, 
and for forty-eight days they had been without fire. 
On the 38th day after the departure of Mr. Forbes, 
the youngest child died; the next youngest died 
the following day, and the oldest girl lived but four 
days longer. The mother was expecting every 
moment to close the eyes of her only remaining 
child, when relief came. For several days, she 
had been so weak that she was obliged to crawl 
upon her hands and knees to the spring for water, 
and she was unable to bury the bodies of her chil- 
dren, which she had laid out. On the 3d of June 
they started for home, carrying Mrs. Forbes on a 
bier by land, and in a canoe by water, till they 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 91 

safely arrived at Norridgewock. Mr. Forbes resid- 
ed ill this town till 1802, and then removed to New 
Gloucester. Other cases of suffering, and perils by 
water, and perils by land, might be mentioned. 

At the close of the Revolutionary war, settlers 
flocked into this place, and a greater number be- 
came permanent residents in the course of five 
years, than had settled in the ten years preceding. 
Many who came to explore the country in the early 
settlement of this town, remained but a short time. 
Some removed from place to place; some pushed 
forward farther up the river, and others returned to 
Massachusetts ; so that the time of their coming, 
and the farms they occupied, cannot be determined. 

As soon as the first settlers began to acquire a 
competency for the support of their families, they 
were called upon for taxes which they were unable 
to pay. After the return of peace, the State, being 
pressed with debt, had recourse to taxes to defray 
the war claims and incidental expenses of the gov- 
ernment. All portions of the commonwealth Avere 
burdened and oppressed with taxes. A State valu- 
ation was made, and taxes were levied on the 
several towns ; the assessors of the towns were 
authorized to tax adjacent plantations and settle- 
ments. Under this authority, the assessors of the 
town of Winslow, near twenty miles distant, taxed 
the settlers in this town. The authority of these 
assessors was denied, payment refused, and resist- 
ance made. The property of the principal settlers 
was seized and sold for the tax assessed upon the 



92 



THE HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 



place. Suits were commenced to recover damages, 
and the parties were harrassed for several years. 
They incurred large bills of cost, and much ex- 
pense in attending court, nearly sixty miles distant 
In these actions, first one party would prevail, then 
the other — demonstrating the glorious uncertainty 
of the law. 

Having become weary of the strife about taxes, 
the inhabitants of this place petitioned to be incor- 
porated into a town, that they might assess and 
collect the taxes in their own way. The town was 
incorporated, June 18, 1788. Canaan and Fairfield 
were incorporated the same day. When a question 
was made, which should be considered the oldest 
town, the Legislature determined that they should 
rank as named on the journal, giving Norridgewock 
the precedence. 

By the act of incorporation, the bounds were so 
established as to include five or six lots on Jones' 
survey, which had before been a part of Canaan 
Plantation, and to exclude three lots on Sandy riv- 
er, which had been considered a part of this town, 
and called Little Norridgewock. These lots now 
make part of the town of Starks. 



CHAPTEE VI. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN. 

Town Officers, Petition to General Court, Abatement of Taxe«, 
Extracts from Records, Meeting house, .Preaching, Rum at 
raising of the meeting house, Alterations in the house, Books 
for Records, Early Settlers, Revolutionary Peniioners. 

At the time of the incorporation of this town, 
there were seventy-nine families within its limits, 
and the number of inhabitants was estimated to be 
three hundred and twenty. The first town meet- 
ing was holden August 20, 1788. Hon. Daniel 
Cony, of Hallowell, was chosen Moderator; John 
Clark, Zephaniah Keith, and Moriah Gould, Select- 
men and Assessors; Josiah Heald, Treasurer; John 
Heald, Constable ; and Charles Witherell, Collect- 
or. At this meeting the town voted, " that the 
selectmen forward a petition, as quick as may be^ 
for the abatement of the taxes sent to this town for 
several years past." And the following petition 
was prepared : 

" To the Hon. Senate and House of Representa- 
tives, i?i General Court assembled, The petition of 
the town of Norridgewock most humbly sheweth, 

9 



94 THE HISTORY OP 

that in consequence of a citation served on Major 
John Moore, Sylvanus Sawyer, and Josiah Warren, 
of Norridgewockj we were informed that the au- 
thority required them to assess a tax, in March, 
1788. We have since heen informed that the 
whole amount of what Government requires of this 
town was £253, 18 s. 9 d. [$846,451 a sum we are 
utterly unable to pay. Such is our situation, that 
we are totally deprived of every advantage of ob- 
taining cash, and it is found on the strictest inquiry, 
even to obtain Avherewithal to forward this petition, 
that there is not seven dollars of silver, compre- 
hending every farthing, in the town of Norridge- 
wock. There is no market that we can go to, and 
if there were, we have nothing to send. Neither 
do the inhabitants of this place, considered at large, 
eat bread in their families more than three quarters 
of the year. It is not uncommon to find a whole 
neighborhood without a cow. And it is attended 
with so much difficulty to keep sheep, that there 
never was a piece of fulled cloth made in Norridge- 
wock. We are sorry to he obliged to say, that 
were it not for the alternative presented us, name- 
ly, the privilege of obtaining land for settling, 
many of our families must have remained a public 
charge in the respective towns we brought them 
from. Under these deplorable circumstances, 
strongly impressed with the duty we owe the 
Legislature of this Commonwealth, we most hum- 
bly implore your interposition, praying your Honors 
to abate the several taxes imposed on this planta- 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 95 

tion, or take such other measures as your wise and 
paternal care shall direct, and your petitioners, as 
in duty bound, shall ever pray. 

i; John Clark, ) Sekctmmof 

" Norridgewock, Aug. 20, 1788." 

The Legislature, at their next session, passed the 
following resolution : ^^ Resolved, That if the town 
of Norridgewock pay seventy-two dollars into the 
treasury of the State, and cause one third part of 
the residue of the tax to be expended in the support 
of a Gospel minister, one third part in schooling, 
and the other third part on the roads in said town, 
the next year, that the aforesaid tax shall be 
abated." The town complied with this requisition. 
Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, the settled minister ol 
Georgetown, who had resided in this place most ot 
the time for several years, was employed as a min- 
ister, to the amount required, and he was paid by 
the voluntary contributions of individuals. 

On comparing this tax and the population at 
that time, with the present population of the town, 
and apportioning a tax according to the number of 
inhabitants, it would amount to five thousand, two 
hundred and eighty-seven dollars, nearly double 
the amount of the present State, county and town 
taxes, which, with the present advantages and 
ability of the inhabitants, would be considered ex- 
tremely oppressive. A town meeting was held 



96 



THE HISTORY. OP 



three weeks after the first organization of the town, 
and it was then voted to raise four dollars in 
money, and twenty-five bushels of rye, to defray 
expenses. The first meeting in the town, for elec- 
tion purposes, was holden Nov. 3, 1788. " Votes 
were then given in for Member of Congress, and 
Hon. George Thatcher had thirty-five votes. For 
Electors of President, Daniel Cony and William 
Gorham had thirty-five votes." No scattering votes 
were cast. In March, 1789, Samuel Weston was 
employed to run out the boundaries of this town, 
according to the act of incorporation : and the lines 
he then made can still be followed, where the trees 
are standing. The first tax after the incorporation 
of the town was assessed on the following persons, 
viz : 



Amos Adams, 
Ephraim Brown, 
John Brown, 1 
Moses Bickford, 
Henry Bickford, 
John Cook, 
T\ idow Cook, 
Abraham Clark, 
John Clark, 
Charles Foye, 
p. Farnsworth, 
Ezek. Emerson, 
Zebulon Oilman, 
Moriah Gould, 
Widow Heald, 
Josiah Heald, 
John Heald, 



Thomas Heald, 
Benjamin Hinds, 
Oliver Heywood, 
Isaac Kidder, 
Zeph. Keith, 
Abraham Keith, 
Unite Keith, 
Jonathan Keith, 
Zachariah Longley, 
Asa Longley, 
David Lancaster, 
Widow Laughton, 
John Laughton, 
Thomas Laughton, 
Phineas Mclntire, 
Moses Martin, 
Beniamin Moorn 



John Moore, 
Goff Moore, 
Josiah Nutting, 
Samuel Nutting, 
Nathan Parlin, 
Silas Parlin, 
Jonas Parlin, 
Alpheus Parlin, 
David Pierce, 
Simon Pierce, 
Edmund Parker, 
Widow Parker, 
A. Parker, 
Levi Proctor, 
William Richardson, 
Robert Richards, 
Jonas Snwtelle, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 97 

Amos Shepardson, Wm. Sylvester, John Ware, 

Samuel Squier, Sylvanus Sawyer, Josiah Warren, 

John Squier, Levi Sawyer, Nath'l Withee, 

Daniel Steward, Levi Sampson, William Withee, 

William Spaulding, Benj. Thompson, Thos. Whitcomb, 

Wm. Spaulding, Jr., Joseph Tarbell, Chas. Whitcomb, 

Josiah Spaulding, Oliver Wood, Obadiah WitherelJ, 
Josiah Spaulding, Jr., Silas Wood, Charles Witherell, 

Eleazer Spaulding, Ephraim Wood, William Weston. 
Seth Spaulding, 

The whole number was seventy-nine, which 
comprised all the heads of families in town. John 
Moore, John Clark, and Eleazer Spaulding were 
the highest three on the list. The inhabitants now 
began to acquire some of the comforts as well as 
the necessaries of life. There were but few cases 
of suffering for want of food or clothing, and no 
person required assistance, as a pauper, for many 
years after the town was incorporated. 

It does not appear that any very exciting sub- 
jects were agitated in town meeting, during the 
first twelve years, except the building of a meeting 
house, and employing a minister. The first set- 
tlers, descendants of the Pilgrims, were early im- 
pressed with the importance of having stated 
religious instruction, at the expense of the town. 
They had been in the habit of meeting for religious 
worship on the Sabbath, from the first settlement of 
the place. After the incorporation of the town, in 
five years out of ten, a majority succeeded in rais- 
ing a ministerial tax of one hundred dollars a year, 
which was expended for preaching. 

9* 



98 THE HISTORY OF 

At the first annual meeting of the town, in 1789, 
a committee was chosen to select a spot for a meet- 
ing house, and the subject of erecting a house con- 
tinued to be agitated for five years. The commit- 
tee reported a lot on the hill where William Allen's 
orchard now is. At a subsequent meeting, July 9, 
it Was "Voted that the town refuse to accept the 
spot reported by the committee, for a meeting 
house." August 2, 1789, " Voted not to agree on a 
spot for a meeting house, at present." April, 1789, 
" Voted to dismiss the article respecting preaching. 
Voted to dismiss the article respecting books for 
town records." March, 1790, "Voted that the 
price of wheat be 6 s. ; rye, 5 s. ; corn, 4 s. ; peas, 
6 s. ; flax, 1 s. ; wool, 3 s. ; clear pork, well salted, 
Is.; to be received in payment for all town taxes." 
"Voted to pass over the article for paying Rev. 
Ezekiel Emerson for preaching." A voluntary 
contribution was thereupon raised to pay him. 
May 26, 1790, "Voted that the selectmen hire Rev. 
Mr. Mussey to make up a year from the time he 
commenced preaching." December, 1791, "Voted 
to dismiss the article to hire preaching." April, 
1792, " Voted, wheat five shillings, rye four, corn 
three, in payment for taxes." Chose a committee 
to join with Canaan to hire preaching. December, 
1792, " Voted to build a meeting house, sixty feet 
by forty-five, and voted to set the same in Deacon 
Clark's field," (the place where it now stands.) 
January, 1793, "Voted to hire Rev. Mr. Calef, till 
all the money in bank in the town be expended." 



N0RRID6EW0CK. 9^ 

July, 1793, " Voted to hire Mr. Calef one third o 
the lime for two years, if the town of Canaan set- 
tles him." 

In the summer of 1794, the meeting house was 
erected, and among other things preparatory to the 
raising, it was "Voted to get one barrel of good 
W. I. Rum, and one hundred pounds of maple 
sugar, to be used at the raising of the meeting 
house." During that year, the meeting house wa? 
erected and the outside finished, at the expense of 
the town. A loose floor was laid, and rough seats 
put up, so that it could be occupied in moderate 
weather. It remained in this unfinished state till 
1807, when a new effort was made, and the house 
was finished, by the sale of the pews. The ar- 
rangement of the house was, "like old Concord 
meeting house," (where some of the people had 
been accustomed to worship,) with square pews. 
The house was built of good materials, in a sub- 
stantial manner, and well painted. The three pre- 
vailing religious denominations had a right to occu- 
py the house, according to the number of pews 
owned by each ; the property of the house being in 
the town. As an inducement to place the house in 
this spot, Deacon Clark gave the town two acres of 
his field for a common, and one acre at the lower 
end of the village for a burial ground. In 1837, 
by a vote of the town, and the consent of the own- 
ers of the pews, the Congregational church and 
society, who owned more than one half of the 
pews, remodeled the house. An addition was 



100 THE HISTORY OF 

made on the east end, for stairways and an entry 
below, and for an orchestra on the second floor. 
One third of the lower story was fitted up for a 
vestry, and two thirds for a town hall. The upper 
part was finished in a convenient style for a church, 
for the sole use of that society. The expense of 
the alteration was over two thousand dollars. An 
organ was afterwards procured by subscription. 

In 1798, the town voted that the balance of the 
ministerial tax be expended in purchasing three 
folio books for town records — ten years having 
elapsed since the organization of the town, before 
any books were procvired for this purpose. During 
that time, the minutes of the town meetings, the 
laying out of roads, and all other matters of record, 
were kept on loose sheets of paper, stitched togeth- 
er from time to time, but in no case attested by the 
Town Clerk. These papers have been preserved 
in that unfinished state, and are now referred to as 
Town Records. Some excuse must be made for 
defects and trifling inaccuracies, as there was not 
an individual in town, at the time of the incorpo- 
ration, who had any practical knowledge of the 
duty of town officers. The camp of the army had 
been the principal school for most of the men then 
in town. 

Fifty men who have lived in this town have 
been placed on the list of Revolutionary pensioners, 
two of whom are still living here. Many others 
who served in the army died before pensions were 
granted. The following is a list of Revohitionarv 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



101 



pensioners receiving $ 96 a year, under the Act of 
March 18, 1818, who have been residents of this 
town : — Jabez Bowen, Nathaniel Barret, Magnus 
Beckey, Benjamin Baxter, Moses Chamberlain, 
Moriah Gould, Ezekiel Oilman, Benjamin Hinds, 
Barnabas Jackson, Zachariah Longley, David 
Pierce, Andrew Russell, Eliphalet Robbins, Jonas 
Sawtelle, Benjamin Steward, Eleazer Spaulding, Jr., 
Joseph Tarbell, Charles Witherell, Thomas Whit- 
comb, and Uzziel Withee. The most of these 
twenty were cut off in 1820. 

The following were pensioners under the same 
act, also under the act of June 7, 1832 : 

Samuel Emery, first at $96, afterwards, $120. 



Asa Longley, '• 
Edmund Parker, " 
Eleazer Parlin, *' 
Solomon Russell, " 
Wm. Spaulding, " 
'^ Josiah Spaulding, " 
Obad. Witherell, '' 



96, 
96, 
96, 
96, 
96, 
96. 
240. 



80. 

80. 

80. 
120. 

66 §. 

46 §. 
320. 



Under the act of June 7, 1832, John Ames, 
$27,77; John Clark, $41,66; Peter Gilman, $21,20 
* Thomas Heald, $25,27; =^ Goff Moore, $26,66 
Nathan Parlin, $38,34; Joseph Russell, $50,00 
Daniel Steward, $33,33; Silas Wood, $57,10 
Phineas Whitney, $43,33; Phineas Mclntire, $40 



* Still living. 



104 THE HISTORY OP 

sachusetts was agitated and submitted to the peo- 
ple, in 1816, under much political excitement — one 
party advocating it because they should have a 
majority in the new State, and the others opposing 
it for fear of losing power. But the question was 
submitted to the people, and towns were authorized 
to choose delegates to form a constitution, provided 
that a majority of five ninths was in favor of the 
separation. The votes in this town were sixty-four 
yeas and sixty-five nays; and William Allen. Jr., 
was chosen a delegate to the Convention for form- 
ing a constitution. He attended during the session 
of this convention at Brunswick, without compen- 
sation. Only a small majority of the votes in 
Maine were in favor of the measure. A committee 
of the Convention ascertained that the aggregate 
majorities of yeas in the several towns and planta- 
tions were to the majorities of nays more than five 
to four. So they decided that the Convention was 
authorized to proceed in the formation of a consti- 
tution, although there was not the necessary major- 
ity of all the votes. The Legislature refused to 
sanction this construction, and no further proceed- 
ings were made until 1819, when the object was 
accomplished by the united efforts of both political 
parties. After the preliminary measures had been 
taken, another Convention met in Portland in Octo- 
ber. William Allen, Jr., was again chosen dele- 
gate. A large majority in this town, and in the 
State, was in favor of the separation. The con- 
stitution was prepared by the Convention and 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 105 

adopted by the people with great unanimity, and 
on the 15th of March, 1820, Maine became an in- 
dependent State. At the first election, Gen. Wil- 
liam King was chosen Governor, by a large major- 
ity. He received all but one of the votes in this 
town. The Executive appointments were made in 
accordance with the previous understanding, that 
each party should have its share of the officers — 
and generally the appointments were satisfactory 
to all parties. The appointment of Sheriff in the 
County of Somerset was injudicious. Mr. Sawtelle, 
who had before been Sheriff, was a discreet, unas- 
suming man, of strict integrity, against whom no 
complaint had been made. He was removed, and 
his successor, Benjamin Adams, from Hallowell, 
was quite different in his character. Remonstran- 
ces were made against this appointment, and also 
against the appointment of Hon. Warren Preston, 
a lawyer of this town, to be Judge of Probate, 
But the opposition to Judge Preston subsided, and 
he continued in office till 1833, when he resigned, 
and Hon. Drummond Farns worth, of this town, 
was appointed for seven years ; just before the ex- 
piration of his term, he resigned, and Hon. Charles 
Green, of Athens, was appointed. At the expira- 
tion of his term. Judge Green was re-appointed, 
and now holds the office. William Haskell was 
appointed Register of Probate by Governor King. 
Mr. Haskell was succeeded by Joshua Gould, Cul- 
len Sawtelle, William Allen, and Thomas C. 
Jones, all of this town. William Allen, Jr., of this 
10 



106 THE HISTORY OF 

town, was appointed Clerk of the Courts in 1820, 
and was succeeded by James Dinsmore, of Anson, 
Ellas Cobb, of Solon, Joshua Gould, of this town, 
Cyrus Fletcher, John Kerswell, and Llewellyn 
Kidder, of Skowhegan. 

In 1821, Asa Clark, of this town, was chosen 
Register of Deeds, and held the office by re-election 
till March, 1847, when William Titcomb, of New 
Portland, the present incumbent, was chosen to 
that office. Hon. William Read, of Strong, was 
appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions, 
in the room of Calvin Selden, of this town. After 
the first organization of the State Government in 
Maine, the two pohlical parties fell back upon their 
rights, and almost all appointments have been 
made with particular reference to the political opin- 
ions of those appointed. The re-appointment of 
Hon. John S. Tenney, of this town, as Judge of 
the Supreme Judicial Court, is an honorable ex- 
ception. 

On looking at the votes for Governor, it will be 
seen that there were no dissenting votes in this 
town for the first ten years. In 1799, opposing 
candidates were voted for in the election of State 
and County officers. The majority in this town 
generally voted for the Federal candidates, so long 
as the Federalists were known as a party. After 
the blending of all parties, under President Mon- 
roe's administration, new issues were formed, and 
new parties, now known by the names of Whigs 
and Democrats, sprung up. In 1841, the advocates 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 107 

of human rights and the friends of the slaves or- 
ganized a pohtical party, to remove the evils of 
slavery from our country. They adopted the name 
of the Liberty party. Some of the best citizens in 
this town entered fully into the views of this party, 
and their numbers increased until 1847, when they 
numbered one sixth part of the voters. In 1845, a 
fourth party was formed in this town, who took the 
name of National Reformers. Their creed is ex- 
pressed in the following resolution : Resolved^ That 
the earth belongs to God, and he has given to every 
man an equal natural right to the use of light, air, 
earth, and water; and as it is from the earth we 
draw our subsistence, so -any individual has a 
natural and inalienable right to the use of a suffi- 
cient quantity of land to afford him a comfortable 
subsistence, and it is not in the power of any gov- 
ernment to make any just law which shall destroy 
that right." They are in favor of the reduction of 
the salaries of public officers, and of the distribu- 
tion of the public lands among actual settlers. 
They will vote for no persons who will not pledge 
themselves to carry our these principles — and 
they have obtained one eighth part of the votes in 
this town. The Liberty party and the "National 
Reform " party coalesced in 1848, forming the 
''Free Soil" party, which numbered one third of 
the voters in town. 

The following is a list of the votes in this town, 
fer the last fifty years. For the ten preceding 
years, the votes were unanimously for the prevail- 



108 



THE HISTORY OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 



ing candidate. The largest vote during that period 
was in 1789, when 39 votes were cast for John 
Hancock, the Revolutionary patriot. The smallest 
vote was in 1793, when nine votes only were given 
for Hancock. 



VOTES FOR GOVERNOiR. 



1799. 
1800. 
1801. 
1802. 
1803. 
1804. 
1805. 
1806. 
1807. 
1803. 
1809. 
1810. 
1811. 
1812. 
1813. 
1814. 
1815. 
1816. 
1817. 
1818. 
1819. 



Sumner 30, 



Strong 14, 

Strong 11, 

Strong 27, 

Strong 26, 

Strong 34, 

Strong 27, 

Strong 41, 

Strong 47, 

Gore 49, 

Gore' 80. 
Gore 
Gore 

Strong 100, 

Strong 115, 

Strong 112, 

Strong 122, 

Brooks 115, 

Brooks 119, 

Brooks 110, 

Brooks 59, 



101, 



Heath 

Gerry 

Gerry 

Gerry 

Gerry 

Sullivan 

Sullivan 

Sullivan 

Sullivan 

Sullivan 

Lincoln 

Gerry 

Gerry 

Gerry 

Varnum 

Dexter 

Dexter 

Dexter 

Dearborn 

Crownlnshielii 32 

Crowninshielcl46 



1820. 
1821. 
1822. 
1823. 
1824. 
1825. 
1826. 
1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830. 
1831. 
1832. 
1833. 
1834. 
1835. 
1836. 
1837. 
1838. 
1839. 
1840. 



King 

Parris 

Parris 

Parris 

Parris 

Parris 

Lincoln 

Lincoln 

Lincoln 

Hunlon 

Hunton 

Goodenow 147, 

Goodenow 159, 

Goodenov? 137, 

Sprague 176, 

King 124, 



129, Wingate &. others 155 
— ■ - --- 

84, 



100, 
49, 
119, 
85, 
113, 
142, 
159, 



Kent 
Kent 
Kent 
Kent 
Kent] 



160, 
221, 



226, 
263, 



Wingate 
Whitman " 
Longfellow " 
Longfellow 
Lincoln 

others none 



Smith 

Smith 

Smith 

Smith 

Dunlap 

Dun lap 

Dunlap 

Dunlap 

Parks 

Fairfield 

Fairfield 

Fairfield 



223, Fairfield 



Liberty party 19 

" 42 

47 



1841. Kent 

1842. Kent 187, Fairfield 93, 

1843. Robinson 175, Anderson 80, 

1844. Robinson 203, Anderson 90, 

1845. Morse 171, Anderson 81, 

1846. Bronson 131, Dana 74, 

1847. Bronson 144, Dana 63, 

1848. Hamlin 155, Dana 80, Free Soil 



155 

80 
76 
49 
95 



102 
103 
115 
110 
124 
148 
112 
150 

84 
127 

99 
100 



51 

74, Reformers 34 
36, " 29 

105 



CHAPTER VIII. 



TOWN OFFICERS. 

Intemperance, Moral Reform and Temperance Societies, Cold 
Season, Sickness, Division of the town. Freshet, Land spec- 
ulation, Surplus revenue. Political excitement. Population, 
Longevity, Bill of Mortality, Finances, Town Officers, By- 
Laws. 

When the settlers commenced building framed 
houses, it was necessary to rally all the force of the 
settlement to the raising; and they thought no 
building could be erected without rum. Even 
when the meeting house was built, they considered 
rum a necessary article for the occasion. When 
military trainings were introduced, ardent spirits 
were always furnished by the officers for their sol- 
diers. The practice of treating upon all occasions 
was introduced by the time that the first settlers in 
this town could raise their bread and procure the 
common necessaries of life for their families. In- 
temperance soon reared its frightful head, and long 
continued to be the greatest foe to the prosperity of 
the town. The habit of using ardent spirits was 
acquired by the soldiers in the army. While they 
were driving back and subduing a foreign enemy, 
10* 



110 THE HISTOKY OF 

a more insidious foe was binding them with the 
fetters of a depraved appetite ; so that in the early- 
settlement of this town the abodes of poverty were 
made more wretched by the intemperance of the in- 
mates. The consequences of the general use of 
ardent spirits throughout the country were truly 
deplorable. The most polished and refined, the 
most learned and inteUigent, were often the victims 
of the destroyer. This town suffered its full pro- 
portion of the evils of intemperance. 

Some Revolutionary patriots foresaw the evil and 
avoided it. Others had power to break the chains 
of habit, when fastened upon them. One worthy 
man, who had formed the habit of using ardent 
spirits by drinking his rations in the army, said he 
had such an appetite for rum that he believed no 
Indian ever loved it better; but when he became a 
Christian, by the grace of God he was enabled to 
break off entirely from the use of ardent spirits, 
long before any temperance society was formed. 
He lived to old age, a pattern of sobriety and a 
pillar in the church. 

Intemperance received a new impulse at the 
close of the war, in 1815, when the price of dis- 
tilled spirits became so reduced, that a man could 
get intoxicated for six cents. The next year a 
society was formed in this town, with which a 
number from other towns united, for the ''reforma- 
tion of morals." The principal object of this 
society was to suppress the iinlawfal sale and check 
the improper use of ardent spirits. Considerable 



NORRIDGEWOCK. HI 

exertion was made to effect their object, but public 
opinion was not in favor of restrictive measures, 
and tlie efforts of the society were unavailing. 
Many good men lamented the degeneracy of the 
times and did what they could to check the evil. 

In 1828, temperance societies began to be formed, 
and public opinion assumed a healthful tone on the 
subject. A town temperance society was organized, 
also a county society, a young men's society, and a 
total abstinence society. Much good resulted from 
their efforts; but when the Washingtonian society 
was instituted by those who had been the victims 
of intemperance, it exerted more influence over 
that unfortunate class than all other societies. 
Numbers in this town united with this society, and 
by the combined efforts of the friends of temper- 
ance, the evil has been stayed, and the intemperate 
in most cases reclaimed, so that but few are now 
found in this highway of ruin. One can hardly 
believe that ever a hogshead of rum was retailed 
from a single store in this place in one week — and 
yet this is true. 

The summer of 1816 was distinguished as the 
cold season. There was snow in June, and frost 
in every month. Corn was entirely cut off and 
bread stuffs were scarce and dear. Flour was fif- 
teen dollars a barrel, and wheat two dollars and a 
half a bushel, in May, 1817. The next season was 
also very cold and wet, but the crops in 1818 were 
remarkably good. This year the typhus fever pre- 
vailed in the village. James Waugh, a prominent 



112 THE HISTORY OF 

man, James Wright, an excellent mechanic, and 
many others died about the same time. In 1826, 
the dysentery and rash prevailed in town, and there 
was a great mortality among the youth. 

In 1828, twelve families with their estates and 
territory, comprising about one twelfth part of the 
taxable property of the town, were set off from Nor- 
ridgewoclr, at their own request, and annexed to 
the town of Milburn, and they now constitute a 
part of the town and village of Skowhegan. 

The year 1832 was distinguished by a great 
freshet, in May, when the Kennebeck was five feet 
higher than it ever had been since the first settle- 
ment of the town. The water rose more than 
twenty feet in this town in the space of three days, 
and did considerable damage. The season was 
wet and cold, and the crops of corn and grain were 
small. 

The community was excited in 1834 with land 
and timber speculations. Timber lands had been 
thrown into the market, and were seized upon with 
avidity, and prices rapidly rose from one dollar to 
ten dollars an acre. Fortunes were made in a day, 
and a large portion of the community were as 
much infatuated as the California gold diggers of 
later times. The banks discounted freely to busi- 
ness men and speculators. The fever raged for 
three years — when the buble burst. Many awoke 
from their dreams of wealth to find themselves in- 
solvent. The banks could not collect their loans. 
The specie was withdrawn from their vaults by the 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 113 

removal of the government deposites, and all the 
banks in New England found it necessary in 1837 
to suspend specie payments. Immense losses were 
sustained even by careful, prudent men. Some 
found that they had been imposed upon, and 
had recourse to judicial tribunals to determine the 
validity of the contracts they had made. The 
business men of this place, and a number of pru- 
dent farmers, were drawn into the vortex, and lost 
from five hundred to five thousand dollars each. 

In 1837, the surplus revenue of the national 
treasury was deposited with the several States, and 
Maine, instead of applying her share to the pay- 
ment of the State debt, distributed it among the 
towns, according to the population, at the rate of 
two dollars to each inhabitant — to be refunded 
when called for by the State. 

This town chose a committee of five to invest 
their share of the surplus revenue in bank stock, 
or in loans to individuals. The interest was to be 
applied to the improvement of the burial grounds 
and other town purposes. The committee followed 
their instructions and invested the money; but be- 
fore a year elapsed it was insisted by many that 
this money ought to be distributed among the in- 
habitants ; others still thought that the funds 
should remain safely invested. Town meetings 
were repeatedly called, attended by angry discus- 
sions and much excitement. At length the vote for 
investing the money was rescinded, and a new 
committee was raised, to sell the bank stock, and 



114 THE HISTORY OF 

collect the loans. The town voted that two dol- 
lars should be paid to each person who was an 
inhabitant of this town at the time when the sur- 
plus revenue was distributed among the towns, if 
they were living, or to their lawful representatives 
— one half in six months, and the other half in 
one year, with interest; and a tax of eight hundred 
dollars was raised, to make good any deficiency 
and to defray the expenses. 

No transaction has ever before produced so much 
altercation and bitterness in any town meeting as 
this. It was well remarked by an intelligent citi- 
zen, that if he were disposed to do the greatest pos- 
sible injury to a town, under pretence of doing 
good, he would raise a tax of a th(5usand dollars a 
year, to be distributed among the inhabitants. 

In 1840, the town partook largely of the general 
excitement that prevailed throughout the country, 
previous to the presidential election. Public dis- 
cussions were repeatedly held, and the best talents 
in the State were employed. Each party endeav- 
ored to excel the other. Splendid processions par- 
aded in our streets, and stages were erected, where 
public speakers harangued mass meetings, all pro- 
fessing to be animated with ardent patriotism, and 
anxious to promote the best interests of the country. 
A larger number of votes were given this year, 
than had ever been given before, or has been giv- 
en since, on any occasion. 

The death of President Harrison, which occurred 
one month after his inauguration, was deeply 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 115 

lamented by the whigs in this town. At the annu- 
al fast, a few days after the event. Rev. Mr. Peet 
delivered an appropriate discourse upon the death 
of the President. 

The population of the town, county and Stale, 
since 1784, has been as follows : 

Date. Norridgewock. Somerset. Maine. 

1784. 280. -*1,000. 56,321. 



1790. 


376. 


2,330. 


96,540. 


1800. 


033. 


5,555. 


151,719. 


1810. 


880. 


12,317. 


228,705. 


1820. 


1,454. 


21,698. 


298,335. 


1830. 


1,710. 


35,779. 


398,456. 


1840. 


1,865. 


133,912. 


501,796. 


1849. 


*2,000. 


^40,000. 


^600,000. 


Numbers of diiferent 


ages in Norridgewock: 


Under 10. 10 to 20. 


20 to 30. 


30 to 40. 40 to 50. 


1830. 


545. 423. 


273. 


423. 123. 


1840. 


531. 466. 


291. 


466. 168. 




50 to 60. 60 to 70. 


70 to 80. 


over 80. Total. 


1830. 


64. 47. 


24. 


8. 1710. 


1840. 


103. 59. 


32. 


9. 1865. 



By the census of 1840, there is but one in about 
200 that was over 80 years of age, one in 45 over 
70, and one in 18 over 60. But one person in town 
has ever lived to the age of 100. Mrs. Adams, who 

* By estimation. t The county was divided in 1838. 



116 THE HISTORY OF 

died near 40 years since, was reputed to be over 
100 years old. Three have died at the age of nine- 
ty-eight; namely, Amos Adams, Obadiah Wither- 
ell, and Ezekiel Oilman. The oldest persons now 
living in town are 

Mrs. Martha Gilman, 
Josiah Spaulding, 
Thomas Heald, 
WilliaQi Crombie, 
John Perkins, 

By an examination of the census, and the num- 
ber of deaths in town, it will be seen that on an 
average, one has died every year out of a hundred 
inhabitants. The year 1826 was remarkable for 
the mortality that prevailed ; one out of 38 died 
that year. No epidemic nor contagious sickness 
has prevailed to any great extent in town — except 
the sickness among children in 1826, and the 
typhus fever in 1818. 

BILL OF MORTALITY IN NORRIDGEWOCK, SINCE 1827.* 



a 


pensioner, 


aged 98. 




(( 


C( 


88. 




a 


tc 


84 






a 


87. 






tc 


86. 



During the year 1828. 


AGE. 


A son of John Wood, 

Adeline, daughter of John Kidder, 


20 
19 


Total, two. 




In 1829. 




William Palmer, died in a fit, 

Amasa, son of David Gilman, 

Mr. Rogers, old age, 

William Diiismore, Jr., dropsy on the brain, 


75 
13 
80 
22 



*A "Record of Mortality" has been kepi by Rev. J. Peet since 1814. The 
last 22 vears oiilv are submitted. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 117 



Thomas Whitcomb, drowned, 65 

Caroline Heald, hemorrhage, 15 

Emily Heald, fever, 15 

Phebe, widow of Josiah Heald, palsy, 80 

William Hackett, fever, 22 

Mrs. Wood, wife of Nathan Wood, Jr., puerperal, 40 
Ten adults, also ten children. 

In 1830. 

Horatio, son of John Marshall, palsy, 18 

Mrs. Adams,*wife of Amos Adams, Senior, about 70 

Capt. Amos Fletcher, consumption, 40 

Deacon Nathan Wood, dropsy, 80 

Jonathan Bosworth, fever, 43 

Zebediah Barker, Jr., fever, 17 

Adeline, wife of Edward Rowe, fever, 25 

Harriet, wife of Jonathan Stoddard, fever, 26 

Mrs, Trench, wife of James Trench, Esq., about 30 
Nine adults, also four children. 

In 1831. 

William, son of William Allen, consumption, 22 

William Wilson, old age, 81 

Charlotte, wife of Hon. D. Farnsworth, consumption, 43 

Two persons of color, in Miles Williams' family, do., unknown 

Ephraim Lindsey, scrofula, about 72 

Relief B. Carter, consumption, 18 
Seven adults, also one child. 

In 1832. 

Emeline, daughter of Joshua Gould, Esq., fever, 20 

Mrs. Bigelow, wife of Cushman Bigelow, fever, about 30 

" " 25 

45 
81 
80 
19 



Benjamin Longley, Jr., deranged, 
James Taylor, dropsy. 

Deacon John Clark, one of the first settlers, old age, 
Phineas Whitney, consumption and old age, 
A son of William L. Wheeler, fever, 
Seven adults, also five children. 



In 1833. 

Polly, daughter of Edmund Parker, long sickness, about 30 

Stephen Tuckerman, intemperance, 50 

Sarah, wife of Thomas Jones, lung fever, 69 
Charles Witherell, a revolutionary pensioner, consumption, 71 

Sarah, widow of Josiah Warren, cramp, 83 

Jacob Cook, a schoolmaster, fever, ^ about 35 

11 



118 



THE HISTORY OF 



Nathan Parlin, a pensioner and early settler, old age, 
Oliver C, son of M. S. Blunt, Esq., inflammation of brai 
Eight adults, also six children. 
In 1834. 

Dr. Asaph Thompson, apoplexy, 
Persis, daughter of Dr. Thompson, consumption, 
Melinda, wife of Melzar Lindsay, consumption, 
Jason Hinds, consumption, 
Peter Oilman, the old post rider, dysentery, 
Mrs. Bates, wife of Solomon Bates, Esq., palsy, 
Harriet Drew, fever. 
Love, wife of Thomas Cook, drowned. 
Eight adults, also one child. 

In 1835. 

Mrs. Carol, an aged lady, 

Mary, wife of William Crombie, 

Deacon Solomon Bixby, a worthy man, old age, 

Caleb Jewett, Esq , fever,, 

Four adults, also one child. 

In 1836. 
Samuel, son of Joseph Baker, killed in the woods, 
Edmund Parker, a revolutionary pensioner, apoplexy, 
Gardiner French, consumption, 
Mrs. Haggett, mother of I. Haggett, a widow, old age, 

Four adults, also two children. 



AGE 

about 78 
n," 23 



about 54 

" 17 

" 40 

« 36 

82 

69 

17 

about 45 



about 75 
♦' 74 

72 
55 



about 20 
76 
28 

about 80 



23 
19 
25 

70 



In 1837. 
Charles G., son of Melzar Lindsey, consumption 
Cyrus, son of James Stackpole, drowned near the Forks, 
Francis Powers, Jr., drowned at the same time^ 
Lucy, widow of Nathan Parlin, consumption, 
Four adults, also eight children. 

In 1838. 

Mary, wife of Joseph Vickerie, consumption, about 68 

Charles Morse, 2d, consumption, " 28 

Mrs. Blackwell, wife of Jabez Blackwell, old age, " 75 

Jabez Blackwell, old age, 78 

Lucy, wife of Sumner Bixby, inflammation of brain, 32 

Mrs. Tozer, wife of John Tozer, fever, 59 

Widow Eliza Rider, about 50 

Mrs Bowen, widow of Jabez Bowen, " 70 

Mr. Leathers, son of Levi Leathers, " 25 

Elias, son of Isaac Haggett, consumption, 18 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



119 



AGE 





CO 


about 42 


u 


22 


It 


55 


(t 


50 


(( 


30 



Julia, daughter of Israel Danforth, consumption, 15 

Eben E. Russell, (in Ohio,) consumption, about 31 

Joseph Vickerie, an early settler, consumption, " 70 

Lucy, daughter of Isaac Haggctt, consumption, " 16 

Jonas Parlin, one of the first settlers, old age, " 80 

Richard Sawtelle, Esq., formerly sheriff, consumption , 71 
Seventeen adults, also fourteen children. 

In 1839. 

Lucy, widow of Joel Crosby, consumption, 
Thurston Heald, son of Josiah Heald, consumption, 
Sarah, wife of Charles D. Farrin, consumption, 
Dolly, wife of Samuel Smith, consumption, 
Elizabeth, wife of Rev. S. Hutchins, consumption, 
Charles, son of Edmund Parker, (at Mobile,) fever, 
Six adults, also two children. 

In 1840. 

Mary, wife of Isaac Haggett, consumption, about 44 

Mrs. Kilgore, wife of John Kilgore, fever, *' 33 

William, son of James Wright, fat Bath,) fever, " 28 
Miss Emerson, daughter of Hawley Emerson, consumption, 22 

William Weston, one of the first settlers, about 76 
Five adults, also six children. 

In 1841. 

Leonard, son of widow Russell, of consumption, about 23 

William, son of James Mills, drowned, 13 

William Hilton, dysentery and fever, about 60 

Hannah, wife of Deacon John Loring, consumption, 56 

Judith, wife of Thomas C. Jones, consumption, 38 

Rufus, son of Artemas Heald, Esq., diabetes, 24 

Mrs. Bickford, wife of Aaron Bickford, fever, 22 

Thomas Jones, consumption and old age, 75 
Eight adults, also four children. 
In 1842 

Caroline, daughter of Josiah Warren, consumption, 20 

Albert B., son of William Allen, Esq , consumption, 23 

A daughter of Joseph Savage, (at Lowell,) fever, 16 

Sarah, daughter of Joseph Pratt, fever, 16 

Polly, widow of Dr. Thompson, consumption, 56 

Mary, wife of Edward C. Selden, consumption, 24 

John Laughton, one of the first settlers, old age, 82 

Tliomas McKechnie, Esq., surveyor, old age, 81 
Olive, daughter of Tliomas McKechnie, Esq., consumption, 39 

Asa Hall, cancerous tumor, about 40 



120 



THE HISTORY OF 



John A. Chandler, Esq., once Clerk of Courts, Kennebeck, 

consumption, 55 

Mary Ann, wife of Solomon W. Bates, consumption, about 35 
Twelve adults, also twelve children. 



In 1843. 

Mrs. Augustie, wife of Charles Augustie, 

Levi Leathers, Jr., 

Elizabeth, wife of Charles Loring, 

Ira Searle, 

Rose Ann, wife of William P. Longley, 

Mary, widow of John Wyman, 

Mr. Burgess, 

Phebe, wife of Josiah Spaulding, 

Jesse Parlin, 

Sarah, wife of William Spaulding, Esq., 

Benjamin Nutting, 

Lee Nutting, his son, 

Sally, wife of Nathan Laughton, 

Elder Francis Powers, Baptist preacher, 

Fourteen adults, also six children. 

In 1844. 

Hawley Emerson, 

Hannah, daughter of Joshua Taylor, 

Margaret, widow of Edmund Parker, 

Dr. Jesse Taylor, 

Abby, wife of Seth Cutler, 

Stephen Burgess, 

Mrs Tilton, (widow,) 

Charles Bowden, 

Luke Withee, 

Powers, an Irishman, 

Mrs. Jewett, wife of Joshua Jewett, 

Abby Freeman, consumption, 

Mrs. Rowe, cholera morbus, 

Fanny, wife of David Sturgess, cancer, 

Abel Adams, 

Mrs. Higgins, wife of Aaron Higgins, 

Daughter of Joshua Taylor, 

Hannah, wife of Amory Prescott, 

Elisha Lambert, 

Harrison Prescott, 

William Spaulding, Esq., 

Meroe, wife of Hon. D. Farnsworth, 

Twenty-two adults, also six children. 



bou 


135 




23 




36 




38 




20 


bou 


t60 




28 




83 




58 


(( 


82 




56 


(( 


23 




33 


t( 


72 



20 

88 
about 54 

36 

about 80 

« 75 

« 20 

84 

57 
about 60 

20 

64 
65 

about 56 
18 

about 32 
85 

about 25 
84 
44 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



121 



In 1845. 


AGE 


Ansel T. Child, son of John Child, 


about 25 


Nancy, wife of Abraham W. Freeman, 


" 63 


Benjamin Page, Jr., 


" 31 


A daughter of Silas Turner, 


" 16 


Margaret J., wife of Charles A. Bates, 


23 


Daughter of Abraham Gaffield, 


20 


Angeline Anderson, 


16 


Mary, wife of H. G. O. Lindsay, insane, 


25 


Ezekiel Gilrnan, (at Lowell,) 


about 35 


Sarah Hilton, (at Lowell,) 


16 


Ten adults, also seven children. 




In 1846. 




Lucy, widow of Moriah Gould, 


85 


Miss Tinkham, daughter of Orrin Tinkham, 


15 


Miss Woodman, daughter of Daniel Woodman, 


18 


Mrs. Kilgore, wife of John Kilgore, 


40 


Philena, wife of Rev. Eusebius Heald, 


36 


Cornelius N. Butler, 


about 35 


Mrs. Wheeler, wife of William L. Wheeler, 


52 


Mrs. Gray, wife of Robert Gray, 


about 30 


H G. O. Lindsay, 


30 


A son of Mr. Withee, 


16 


David Greene, cholera morbus, 


52 


Plannah Wheeler, 


19 


Washington Woodman, 


40 


Isaac Littlefield, 


75 


Wife of Miles Williams, (colored,) 


about 45 


Fanny Moore, 


« 50 


A son of 'Samuel Jones, drowned. 


16 


A son of Thomas Cook, drowned, 


17 


Silas Thompson, consumption. 


about 33 


John M. Taylor, consunaption, 


" 28 


Mrs. Crosby wife of Thompson H. Crosby, insane. 


" 35 


Lucy, wife of Thomas Heald, 


87 


Twenty-two adults, also twelve children. 




In 1847. 




Mrs. Witherell, wife of Josiah S. Withercll, insane. 


about 35 


Mary Currier, a young woman. 





Reuben Dinsmore, 


61 


Eliza Crosby, erysipelas. 


35 


Mary Ann, wife of Edward C. Selden, 


25 


Mrs. Adams, 





Susan Raynhart, 


30 


Silas Pratt, 


24 


Albert Wade, 


16 


n* 





122 



THE HISTORY OF 



Mrs. Hight, widow of Hanson Hight, 88 

An Englishman, apoplexy, about 45 

Polly , wife of Lucas Brown, " 50 

Julia Ann, wife of J. P. Boswell, " 22 

Mrs. Weeks, " 80 

Mary, widow of Wm. Sylvester, Esq., " 87 

Mrs. McKechnie, *' 34 
Fourteen adults, also eight children. 

In 1848. 

John Marshall, Jr., (by steamboat,) 21 

William W. Dinsmore, apoplexy, 63 

Ellis Blackwell, suicide, 58 

A daughter of Joshua Taylor, 17 

James Adams, Esq., 40 

Rhoda, widow of Asa Longley, 84 

Samuel Smith, (at Edgartown,) 73 

A daughter of Edmund Parker, 20 

Mary, wife of Charles D, Farrin, consumption, 25 

Judith Sawyer, consumption, 13 

Otis Spaulding, disease of liver, 53 

David Sturgess, Jr., consumption, 35 

Mrs. Adams, wife of Daniel Adams, 40 
Thirteen adults, also seven children. 

In 1849. 

Josiah W., son of William Titcomb, 18 

James Bates, delirium tremens, 50 

A son of Lyman Perry, consumption, 16 

A daughter of John Taylor, consumption, • ■ 20 

A daughter of Reuben Morton, consumption, about 23 

Phebe Spaulding, scrofula, 19 

Mrs. Trench, widow, 93 

A son of Samuel Jones, by the kick of a horse, 16 

Betsy, wife of Joseph H. Hill, 69 
Nine adults, also four children, to July 1, 1849. 



The town has never had any public lands, min- 
isterial or school funds, from which a revenue could 
be derived, but has always provided funds prompt- 
ly, to meet all necessary expenses, by taxes upon 
the polls and estates. The following is a list of 
the taxes for the first twelve years. 







NORRIDGEWOCK. 


123 


Date. 


Highway tax. 


School tax. 


Town expenses. 


Parish lax. 


1788. 


$200,00. 


none. 


$ 4,00.* 


none. 


1789. 


197,00. 


none. 


33,33. 


none. 


1790. 


333,33. 


$100,00. 


26,66.t 


none. 


1791. 


333,33. 


133,33. 


none. 


none. 


1792. 


166,66. 


none. 


33,33. 


$300,00.t 


1793. 


166,66. 


66,66. 


none. 


116,66. 


1794. 


266,66. 


83,33. 


66,66. 


none. 


1795. 


500,00. 


133,33. 


56,66. 


none. 


1796. 


166,66. 


100,00. 


none. 


90.00. 


1797. 


333,33. 


150,00. 


100,00. 


100,00. 


1798. 


300,00. 


150,00. 


200,00. 


100,00. 


1799. 


400,00. 


200,00. 


none. 


none. 



From 1800 to 1810, the highway tax was in- 
creased from $400 to $1000; from 1810 to 1814, it 
was raised to $2000. It has been as high as $2500. 
For the last two years it has been necessary to 
raise but $2000 a year. 

From 1800 to 1803, the school tax was $200 a 
year ; from 1803 to 1809, it was $300 yearly ; from 
1809 to 1813, $400; then $500 yearly till 1822; 
then $600 yearly till 1831 ; then $700 a year, for 
ten years. In 1841 it was raised to $750 yearly, 
till 1847 ; from that time it has been $900 yearly. 
The town has always raised a larger sum for 
schools than has been required by law. 

The tax for town expenses from 1800 to 1810 
averaged $100 a year ; for the next twenty years it 



And 25 bushels of rye. f In grain, t I'^or meeting house. 



124 THE HISTORY OF 

averaged $230 each year; from 1831 to 1840 the 
town expenses exceeded $500 a year, and since 
that time $600 a year. In 1838 a tax of $800 was 
raised, to replace a portion of the surplus revenue, 
which had been previously used for town expenses. 

In 1814, Rev. Josiah Peet was settled as a minis- 
ter, by the concurrent vote of the town and his 
society, with a salary of $200 a year, to be paid 
by the town ; and in 1827, by a like vote, his sal- 
ary was raised to $400 a year. But as every indi- 
vidual, not a member of his society, had a right to 
withdraw himself, nearly all who are not members 
of his church have withdrawn, and at present no 
assessment of parish tax is made by the assessors 
of the town. 

Those who have stood highest on the lists of 
taxes, since the town was incorporated, are : John 
Moore, William Spaulding, Eleazer Spaulding, 
Obadiah Witherell, John Ware, Solomon Bixby, 
Richard Sawtelle, Calvin Selden, Amos Fletcher, 
Caleb Jewett, John W. Sawtelle, Drummond 
Farnsworth, Sarah Sawtelle, and John S. Tenny. 
The highest three on the list for the present year, 
are D. Farnsworth, C. Selden, and Sarah Sawtelle. 
The average money tax on each farm, stock of cat- 
tle, &c., is $15. More than forty persons in town 
pay that sum yearly. The highest tax paid by 
any one is $78 ; two others pay over $50 each. 

The following has been the annual estimate of 
the expenses of the town for two years past, besides 
the highway taxes : 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 125 

1. For support of Schools, $900,00 

2. For support of the Poor, $400 

3. For Selectmen and Assessors, 75 

4. For Collector's commissions, 75 

5. For Sup' tending School Committee, 30 

6. For Town Treasurer, 10 

7. For plank for bridges, and incidental 

expenses, 60 650,00 



1550,00 
State tax in 1848, $924, county lax $507,90, 1431,90 



Total, $2981,90 

The town has reposed a generous confidence in 
the integrity and fidelity of its officers, which has 
been manifested by repeatedly chosing them to the 
same office. The average time of service of the 
Town Clerk, Selectmen, and Treasurer has been 
eight years each. One Selectman served ten years, 
one fourteen years, one nineteen years, and one 
twenty-two years. One Treasurer served ten years, 
one eleven years, and one twelve years. The 
Town Clerk has always been the first Selectman, 
and the Selectmen have always been the Assessors. 
All the town officers now living have reason to 
consfratulate themselves for the confidence bestowed 
on them, and for the satisfactory adjustment of 
their accounts. Those in office have manifested 
great interest in promoting the prosperity of the 
town, by discharging well the duties of their office. 
No unreasonable claims for service have been made 



126 THE HISTORY OF 

by any officer during the last forty years ; and no 
discount has ever been made or requested by the 
town on any accounts of town officers for their ser- 
vices during that time. 

The account of the first Selectman for services 
has been from twenty-five to forty dollars a year; 
each of the other Selectmen receives about one half 
as much. The Collector has usually had a com- 
mission of two and one half per cent on the bills 
committed to him. 

In 1816j when it was found necessary to revise 
the inventory of the town, John Ware, thinking 
himself aggrieved by the Assessors, removed from 
the place, taking with him nearly one tenth part of 
the taxable property in town. But the town sanc- 
tioned the course of the Assessors by re-electing 
them the next year. With this exception, there 
has been comparatively but little complaint con- 
cerning taxes. 

TOWN OFFICERS, FROM 1788 TO 1848. 
Selectmen and Assessors. Treasurer. Collector. 

1788. J. Clark, Z. Keith, M. Gould, J. Heald, John Heald. 

1789. D. Steward, J. Heald, 0. Witherell, J. Clark, Jos. Tarbell. 

1790. D. Steward, J. Heald, S. Wood, J. Clark, B. Thompson. 

1791. J. Wan-en, W. Sylvester, J. Splaudmg, S. Pierce, Levi Sampson. 

1792. D. Steward, J. Warren, Z. Gihuan, S. Wood, Josiah Heald. 

1793. D. Steward, J. Clark, S. Wood, ' S. Wood, W.Spaulding,jr. 

1794. J. Clark, D. Steward, P. Rogers, S. Wood, P. Gilman. 

1795. J. Clark, D. Steward, P. Rogers, S. Wood, W. Ward. 

1796. J. Spaulding, S. Bixby, J. Thompson, S. Wood, D. Lancaster. 

1797. J. Spaulding, S. Bixby, J. Thompson, S. Wood, D. Lancaster. 

1798. J.Spauld'g, 0. Witherell, J.Thompson, S. Wood. B. Moore. 

1799. J. Spaulding, 0. Witherell, J. Harlow, J. Ware, W.Spaulding.jr. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 127 



Selectmen and Assessors. Treasurer^ Collector. 

1800. J. Harlow, 0. Witherell, P. Rogers, J. Ware, W. Spaulding. 

1801. J. Harlow, 0. Witherell, P. Rogers, J. Ware, W. Spaulding. 

1802. J. Spaulding, S. Pierce, W. Sj^vcster, J. Ware,' E. Lindscy. 

1803. J. Spaulding, S. Pierce, W. Sylvester, S. Wood, E. Lindsey. 

1804. J. Spaiilding, S. Pierce, W. Sylvester, S. Wood, W. Spaulding. 

1805. J. Spaulding, S. Bixby, W. SpaukUng, S. Wood, E. Lindsey. 

1806. J. Harlow, S. Bixby, W. Sylvester, J. Ware, E. Lindsey. 

1807. J. Spaulding, W. Sylvester, S. Bixby, JohnLoring, Sam'l Smith. 

1808. J. Spaulding, W. Sylvester, S. Bixby, J. Loring, S. Smith. 

1809. J. Spaulding, W. Sylvester, S. Bixby, J. Loring, S. Smith. 

1810. J. Spaulding, W. Sylvester, S. Bixby, J. Lormg, John,Cook. 

1811. J. Spauldmg, W. Sylvester, S. Bixby, J. Loring, S. Pierce. 

1812. J. Spaulding, W. Sylvester, S. Bixby, J. Loring, S. Pierce. 

1813. J. Spauldmg, W. Sylvester, S. Weston, J. Loring, E. Lindsey. 

1814. J. Spatilding, S. Bixby, S. Weston, J. Loring, E. Lindsey. 

1815. J. Spaulding, S. Bixby, S. Weston, J. Loring, E. Lindsey. 
1816-7. W. AUen,jr., S. Bixby, D. Steward, J. Loring, O.With'rellJr. 

1818. W. Allen,jr., S. Bixby, D. Steward, J. Wright, O.With'rell,jr. 

1819. W. Allen, jr., J. Spaulding, E. Heald, Eze. Heald, O.AVith'rell,jr. 
1820.1W. Allen, jr., E. Heald, S. Philbrick, E. Heald, O.With'relljr. 
1821. W. Allen, jr., A. Clark, S. Philbrick, E. Heald, U. Spaulding. 
1822-3. W. Allen, jr., A. Clark, S. Philbrick, M. S. Blunt, Joshua Gould. 
1824-7. W. Allen, jr., A. Clark, S. Philbrick, M. S. Blunt, T. C. Jones. 
1828-30. W. Allen, jr., A.;Clark, W.Prescott, M. S. Blunt, O.With'rellJr. 

1831. W. AUen, jr., A. Clark, W. Prescott, M. S. Blunt, T. C. Jones. 

1832. W. Allen, jr., J.W. Sawtelle, A. Shed, M. S. Blunt, T. C. Jones. 

1833. A. Clark, jr., M. Lindsey, Z. Withee, M. S. Blunt, T. C. Jones. 

1834. W. AUen, jr., M. Lindsey. J. Bobbins, M. S. Blunt, Jesse Taylor. 

1835. A. Clark, W. Prescott, J. Pariin, G.Sylvester, Jesse Taylor. 
1836-7. M.Lindsey,M.S.Blunt, W.L.Wheeler, Edw. Rowe, E. Rowe. 

1838. M. Lindsey, M.|S. Blunt, J. Davis, E. Rowe, J. Taylor. ' 

1839. M. Lindscy, M. S. Blunt, J, Robbins, E. Rowe, Amos Shed. 

1840. M. Lindsey, M. S. Blunt, J. Robbins, E. Rowe, Wm. Hilton. 

1841. C. Selden, A. Clark, J. Robbins, C. Sawtelle, D.H. Linscott. 

1842. W. Allen, jr., A. F. Tilton, S. Robbms, E. Rowe, B.F. Mclntire. 

1843. W. Allen,^;S. Robbins, A. Tobey, E. Rowe, B.F. Mclntire. 

1844. W. Allen, S. Robbins, A. Tobey, E. Rowe, Levi Powers. 

1845. W. Allen, S. Robbins, S. Pariin, D. Danforth, L. Powers. 
1846-7. E. Rowe, S. Robbins, S. Pariin, D. Danforth, T. C. Jones. 
1848. E. RoAve, S. Robbins, S. Pariin, D. Danforth, Chas. Morse. 



128 THE HISTORY OF 

REPRESENTATIVES TO THE LEGISLATURE. 

1807. Ithamar Spaulding. 1831. John Kidder. 

1808. John Ware. 1832. Cyrus Fletcher. 

1809. John WaVe. 1833. Arthur Spaulding. 

1810. Calvin Selden. 1834. Arthur Spaulding. 

1811. Calvin Selden. 1835. S. Gage, of East Pond. 

1812. Calvin Selden. 1836. Ebenezer Russell. 

1813. William Sylvester. 1837. John S. Tenney. 

1814. William Sylvester. 1838. Samuel Hutchins. 

1815. William Sylvester. 1839. Melzar Lindsey. 

1819. Josiah Spaulding. 1840. Melzar Lindsey. 

1820. E.Coburn,o/^Zoo7?i^eW.1841. W.H .Ellis, o/jEas< Po7m/. 

1821. Caleb Jevvett. 1842. Edward Rovve. 

1822. Jonas Parlin, Jr. 1843. A. P. Morrill, of Madison. 

1823. Jonas Parlin, Jr. 1844. Abraham W. Freeman. 

1824. William Allen, Jr. 1845. James Adams. 

1826. DrummondFarnsworth. 1846. David Danforth. 

1827. William Allen. 1847. S. Weston, of Madison. 

1828. Calvin Selden. 1848. Simeon Robbins. 

1829. Samuel Searle. 

Delegate to the Convention to frame a Constitution for the 
State, in 1816 and 1819,— William Allen, Jr. 

In March, 1822, the town, in order to establish a 
uniform course of procedure in town business, 
adopted a set of regulations, which, if duly ob- 
served, have a salutary effect, especially if new 
town officers are elected — initiating them immedi- 
ately into a knowledge of the affairs of the town, 
its resources and liabilities. Tiiey have also a ten- 
dency to keep the finances and accounts of the 
town open to the inspection of every one — to pre- 
vent improper claims from being presented for 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 129 

allowance in the hurry of a town meeting, without 
a full investigation — and to assist in the correct 
and rapid despatch of business at the annual 
meetings. 

BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS. 

Art. 1. — The Selectmen shall annually, within 
ten days after their election, examine the Town 
Treasurer's and the Collector's accounts for the pre- 
ceding year, and deface all orders which have regu- 
larly been drawn, and which have been paid by the 
Treasurer during the year ; and shall make out and 
put on file a statement of the debts and credits 
of the town, according to the Treasurer's account. 
And on failure thereof they shall each forfeit two 
dollars, to be deducted from the amount to which 
they may be entitled for their other services. 

Art. 2. — The Town Treasurer shall, at least 
two days, and not more than ten days before each 
annual meeting, and as much oftener as may be 
necessary, call on the Collector and all others in- 
debted to the town, for settlement, and within the 
time aforesaid, shall exhibit to the Selectmen a 
statement of the sums he has received on account 
of each tax or claim, and the amount he has paid 
during the year, and also the amount due from 
each collector ; and on failure thereof, he shall for- 
feit two dollars, to be deducted from the amount to 
which he may be entitled for his other services. 

Art. 3. — Whenever any Collector neglects to 
render an account to the Selectmen of his collect 
12 



130 THE HISTORY OF 

tions and payments, every two months, as the law 
requires, it shall be the duty of the Selectmen to 
certify the same to the Town Treasurer, who shall 
thereupon charge such Collector with the forfeiture 
incurred by law — being two and a half per cent 
on the amount of his bills. 

Art. 4. — Every inhabitant of the town who has 
any claim on the town for services or expenses, or 
for abatement of taxes, shall exhibit the same to 
the Selectmen at least two days prior to the annual 
meeting ; and on failure thereof, (if the same be 
objected to by the Selectmen,) shall not be allowed 
at the meeting, and no suit or action shall be sus- 
tained thereon to recover it, till the same has been 
laid before the town at a legal meeting, holden at 
least two days after the same shall have been ex- 
hibited to the Selectmen for examination. 

Art. 5. — The Selectmen shall, two days before 
each annual meeting in the month of March or 
April, make out and post up at the meeting house 
a list of all expenses that have been incurred by 
the town during the year preceding, with the names 
of the persons to whom the same is due, or has 
been paid, including their own accounts. And 
they shall also in like manner, post up an estimate 
of the taxes, that in their opinion will be necessary 
lo be raised in the town for the current year ; and 
on failure thereof they shall forfeit two dollars 
each, as in the first article. 

Art. 6. — No money shall be drawn from the 
treasury, but by orders signed by a major part of 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 131 

the Selectmen, or by vote of the town duly certi- 
fied ; and the Selectmen shall keep a record of all 
orders drawn by them. 

Art. 7. — The Overseers of the Poor shall keep a 
record of all notices respecting paupers, and of all 
applications for assistance, and no contract shall be 
made so as to bind the town, unless it be in open 
town meeting, held for the purpose, or by a major 
part of the Selectmen or Overseers of the Poor, or 
by an agent duly authorized. 

These By-Laws and Regulations were approved 
and confirmed by the Court of Sessions, in March, 
1822, and have been duly observed since that time. 



CHAPTER IX. 



ROADS AND BRIDGES. 

Spotted line^ New roads, Improvements, River road, Waterville 
road, Belgrade road, Coburn road, Gilraore road, Mercer road, 
Bridges, Toll bridges. Loss. 

The want of communication with other places 
is the greatest embarrassment in a new settlement. 
The passage by water, on the river, was difficult 
and dangerous, but was submitted to by our first 
settlers for several years. Making a road through 
the woods is expensive, and much time is common- 
ly required. 

The first communication by land to a new settle- 
ment is usually by a "spotted line." The trees in 
the direction of the route are marked with an axe, 
by hewing off a chip on each side, at such distances 
that the spots can easily be seen from one tree to 
another, while the underbrush is slightly removed, 
so that a man can pass on foot with a pack. This 
work of marking the trees and cutting the bushes, 
requires a man two days to a mile. The path is 
sometimes used in this condition two or three years. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 133 

The next step is to cut out a road so that a pack 
horse can pass in summer, or teams with sleds in 
winter, this requires about four days work to a 
mile. It is then called a sled road, and is used in 
that state two or three years. Then by expending 
six days work to a mile in building small bridges 
and causeys, and clearing out obstructions, it is 
made passable in a rough manner for carts with 
small loads. In this rough state the road is used 
until by the incorporation of the place a more 
thorough course of making a highway is adopted. 
After about seven years in the ordinary way the 
road becomes passable for carriages. 

Twenty years often elapses from the time a new 
road is explored and the work commenced on it by 
the settlers before carriages can pass with safety. 
The road from Norridgewock to Waterville, was in 
the manner described — first, a spotted line near the 
river through Canaan Plantation ; (the distance by 
this route being twenty-five miles ;) then a winter 
road after several years. Sixteen years after the 
first settlers came here, the road was not made so 
that carts could pass with convenience. 

One of the traders in 1789, carried his potash to 
Hallowell in a canoe. Four years more elapsed 
before the river road, as it was called, became con- 
venient for carts. This was the first post road, and 
it was the principal road to Waterville, and thence 
to Hallowell for ten or twelve years before a more 
direct road was made to Waterville. 

In examining the records of the first settlement of 
12* 



134 THE HISTORY OF 

the Friends in Fairfield in 1784, mention is made of 
the new road about to be opened from their place 
to Heald's Mills in Norridgewock. A road had then 
been opened from Waterville to the middle of the 
town of Fairfield. 

In 1785, the road was opened from Norridgewock 
to Waterville — the greater part of the distance near 
the road now travelled, this was altered from time 
to time till 1825. It was then laid out in its present 
location, and made safe and convenient for carriages 
and has been kept in good repair since that time. 

In 1820, the Belgrade road was opened through 
East Pond settlement and Belgrade to Augusta. 
This is now the nearest post road to Augusta, and 
the stage passes over it every day. 

In 1828, the Coburn road was opened in the direc- 
tion of Augusta, by way of West Waterville. This 
by many travellers is considered the best road from 
Norridgewock to Augusta — the distance is less than 
thirty miles. That part of the road which is in this 
town is straight and remarkably level. 

In 1825, the Gilmore Road was opened, which 
shortened the distance to Mercer three miles. 

In 1831, the Mercer Road was opened, by which 
the distance to Mercer is less by two miles than by 
the Gilmore Road. This is now the main travelled 
road from this town to the western part of the State. 

In 1837, a new road was made from South Village 
to Woodman's Hill — and during the same year the 
Walker Road was opened from the county road two 
miles north of the village to Madison Bridge. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 135 

In 1841, the Childs' Road was made in a direct 
line to Starks. In 1844, a new road was opened 
from the village to Searle's Corner, in the direction 
of Madison and Solon, which is nearly on a straight 
line, and is a great improvement on the old road. 
Various other alterations and improvements have 
been made in the roads in this town, so that but lit- 
tle expense will be necessary to make a good road 
to every farm in town. 

The town supports four bridges across Sawtell's 
Mill Stream, each from sixty to one hundred and 
thirty feet long ; two across Martin's Stream, and 
one across Old Point Brook. There are no other 
large streams in town or expensive bridges required 
on the public roads. 

In 1810, a toll bridge was built across the Ken- 
nebec in this town, at an expense of three thousand 
dollars. It was five hundred and fifty feet long, 
built on trusses or bands about one hundred feet 
apart, with balance timbers and stringers, support- 
ed by long braces, and wholly of wood. A part of 
it was carried away by the ice in March following. 
It was repaired and made more secure in the sum- 
mer of 1811, at an expense of twelve hundred dol- 
lars. This stood with but trifling repairs till the 
timber decayed, and it was carried away in March 

1826. The tolls having nearly paid the original 
cost, the proprietors obtained a new charter and 
built a bridge near the old ferry on stone piers in 

1827, which cost seven thousand dollars. This was 
carried away the last day of March 1831. 



136 THE HISTORY OF 

In 1835, a new set of proprietors obtained a char- 
ter and built a bridge wiiere the first one stood,with 
stringers resting on trusses, and balance timbers, 
and supported by king posts with iron stirrups, at 
an expense of five thousand dollars. This was car- 
ried away by a winter freshet in January 1839. It 
was rebuilt the same year at an expense of four 
thousand three hundred dollars, besides the materi- 
als saved from the old bridge, valued at one thou- 
sand dollars. This was again carried away by the 
ice in March 1846. 

The proprietors being discouraged by their losses 
gave way to a new set in 1848, who contracted for 
a good substantial bridge, to be built in a workman- 
like manner, on two stone piers, thirty-five feet 
high, with stone abutments. The bridge to be built 
with lattice work on Town's plan, the whole to be 
completed the first day of October, 1849, for eleven 
thousand dollars. The loss to the proprietors by 
the second bridge, was six thousand dollars ; by the 
third bridge, three thousand ; by the fourth bridge, 
two thousand ; making the whole loss eleven thou- 
sand dollars above the tolls received. 



CHAPTER X 



DESCRIPTION OF NORRIDGEWOCK. 

Beauty of the Village, Public Buildings, Court House, Jail, 
Meeting-house, Academy, Population, Agriculture, Mechan- 
ics, Merchants, Professional men, Education, Benevolent 
Societies. 

All Strangers, who visit this place admire the lo- 
cation of the quiet and beautiful Village of Norridge- 
wock. 

To the traveller proceeding up the river, the ap- 
pearance of the Village, as he approaches it, is pe- 
culiarily pleasant. The road winds along the bank 
of the Kennebec. On the opposite side, the high- 
lands approach the stream with bold and rugged 
banks covered with trees and tangled shrubbery; 
in other places they retire in gentle slopes, exhibiting 
beautiful meadows, cultivated fields, and orchards 
surrounding the comfortable dwellings of the inhab- 
itants. The spire of the village church just peers 
above the green trees clustered around, and glimpses 
of the buildings are seen among the thick branches. 

The village is on a level plain, elevated about 
thirty feet above the surface of the river at low wa- 



138 



THE HISTORY OF 



ter. The combinations of nature and art are here, 
such as to make a favorable impression on the most 
casual observer. The spacious level street, leading 
through the village, lined with large * trees of differ- 
ent kinds; the neat and comfortable appearance of 
the various buildings, well adapted to the purposes 
for which they were erected ; the smooth surface of 
the river to be seen sweeping in its course with a 
gentle current around the curve between this village 
and the village on the south side of the river ; the 
new and thriving appearance of the latter ; and the 
surrounding scenery, are all objects of admiration. 
The cemetery below the village, neatly and appro- 
priately enclosed, with a substantial and finished 
fence, shaded with the oak, the maple, the butter- 
nut and the elm. and profusely sprinkled over with 
wild roses, attracts attention and adds to the repu- 
tation of the place. 

Among the public buildings is the meeting-house 
originally built in old style, but remodeled in 1837. 
The lower floor is divided into a vestry and town- 
hall, [and the upper part conveniently finished for 
a church. 

The court-house is built of brick, fifty feet by 
forty, with an addition of eighteen feet on one end, 
containing an excellent fire-proof vault for the safe 
keeping of the county records, a large entry and 
stairway on the lower floor, with a belfry and tower 

*One large willow gi-owing in the village, measures 20 feet around 
the base, and three feet above the ground, it is 18 feet and 1 inch in 
circumference. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 139 

above. The lower floor of the body of the house is 
divided into four apartments, with an entry and 
passage way between the rooms, and a passage way 
from this to the other entry at the stair way. One 
of the front rooms, twenty feet square, is for the 
clerk's office, the other of the same size is for the 
register of deeds office ; one of the back rooms is 
for the grand jury, and the other is the office of the 
county treasurer. The court hall is on the second 
floor, finished in good style and suitably furnished 
with desks, tables and chairs. The chairs for the 
judges and jurors are cushioned. The floor is car- 
peted and seats are fitted up convenient for specta- 
tors. The house was built in 1820, and cost over 
four thousand dollars ; the additions and alterations 
in 1847, cost about three thousand dollars. The 
building has now a slated roof 

The jail was built of stone in 1810, and cost two 
thousand dollars. It is two stories high, with three 
rooms on each floor and an entry. A Jail House 
was built of brick in 1826, which cost seventeen 
hundred and fifty dollars. This house is occupied 
by the jailer, and extends over the attic story of the 
jail to which it is attached. One of the rooms in the 
building serves for the jailer's office. 

A brick building was erected in 1813, which cost 
one thousand dollars, and is now used for a probate 
office. 

The school-house in the village is large, neat and 
convenient, and cost over seven hundred dollars. 

The Somerset Lodge of Odd Fellows own a large 



140 THE HISTORY OF 

brick edifice in the village, in the third story of 
which they have a spacious hall fitted up and fur- 
nished for the purpose of their order. 

On the south side of the river there is a meeting- 
house forty-five feet by forty, built in 1843, more 
than half of which is owned by the Calvinist Bap- 
tist, one fourth part by the Methodist, and one eighth 
by the Free-will Baptist. The house is convenient- 
ly situated, and is finished and furnished in good 
style. 

The Female Academy on this side of the river, 
was erected in 1837, by the voluntary contribution 
of individuals. The edifice is of brick, and cost one 
thousand dollars, and is in an eligible situation, 
near the junction of five county roads. The land 
was given to the institution by Dr. AmosJTowns- 
end, who also contributed one hundred dollars 
towards the erection of the building. It is finished 
in a convenient manner, with moveable desks and 
chairs to accommodate forty pupils. There are re- 
citation rooms and some apparatus. The institution 
is at present in successful operation, with twenty 
pupils under the tuition of Miss Mary Croswell. No 
more eligible situation can be found in New Eng- 
land, and the academy should receive a more liberal 
patronage. The officers of the institution are Rev. 
Josiah Peet, President; Drummond Farnsworth, 
Secretary; Amos Townsend, Treasurer; John S. 
Tenney, Calvin Selden, John S. Abbott, William 
Allen, Hannibal Ingalls, Trustees. Miss Emily 
Ballard was the first Preceptress, afterwards Miss 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 141 

Howe, Miss Tower, Miss Dunlap, Miss Hanscomb, 
Miss Anderson, and Miss Croswell. 

A meeting-house was built on Oak Hill, in the 
south- west corner of the town in 1836, by the Cal- 
vinist Baptists and other denominations, which cost 
twelve hundred dollars. 

There are thirty-five dwelling houses in each of 
the two villages, and there are twenty shops and 
offices in both. In the south village, there is a good 
flour-mill, saw-mill, fulling-mill, and carding ma- 
chine. The county buildings are in the north vil- 
lage, which is one mile south-east from the centre 
of the town ; thirty miles north from Augusta, eigh- 
ty-five miles north-east from Portland, fifty-five 
miles west from Bangor, and twenty-two miles east 
from Farmington. 

The town now contains two thousand inhabitants ; 
of whom, four hundred and thirty are legal voters. 
Eight hundred and thirty are returned as scholars 
over four, and under twenty-one years of age. There 
are three meeting-houses, an academy, and fifteen 
school-houses in town. 

Agriculture now furnishes employment and sup- 
port for the inhabitants generally, and those who 
make it their principal occupation, and manage 
their business prudently, live independently and 
accumulate property. More than one fifth part of 
the town is cultivated yearly for tillage and mowing, 
and there are more than four thousand acres of pas- 
turage. There was formerly a considerable quan- 
tity of pine timber in the town ; but little now 
13 



142 THE HISTORY OF 

remains, not exceeding fifty acres, and that is in 
detached parcels, and mostly of a second growth. 

The staple productions have been corn, oats, 
wheat and potatoes. The products of the dairy 
are abundant. Beef and pork are raised in large 
quantities, and sheep and wool for market. The 
various kinds of vegetables are raised in abundance 
for home consumption. 

By the last State Valuation taken in 1843, the 
various taxable items were returned as follows : 
Number of dwelling houses, - - 236 
Number of barns and other buildings, 378 

Number of stores, shops and offices, - 17 
Number of tons Enghsh hay cut annually 2482 
Number of tons of meadow hay " 26 

Number of acres of pasturage, - 3765 

Number of horses and colts, - - 267 
Number of oxen, cows, steers and heifers, 1365 
Number of sheep, - - - - 4594 
Number of swine, _ - - _ 456 
Number of pleasure carriages, chaises, &c. 28 
Amount of stock in trade, - - $4,840 
Amount of Bank stock, - - 11,200 

Amount of money at interest, - 14,730 

Total value of real estate, - - 194,777 
Total value of personal estate, - 60,388 
Number of acres of woodland, - 2,932 

Number of acres of unimproved land be- 
sides woodland, _ _ _ 13,160 
Number of acres of unimprovable or waste 
land, 915 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 143 

MINERAL SPRING. 

There is a mineral spring in this town, on land 
owned by Calvin Selden, Esq. about one third of a 
mile north of the court-house, on the old road lead- 
ing to Madison. 

An imperfect analysis of the waters has been 
made, and it is ascertained that they contain a 
minute portion of iron and lime, combined with 
carbonic acid, and also the sulphate of soda and 
magnesia, which render them not only alterative 
and laxative, but gently tonic. 

Though the waters of this spring contain ingre- 
dients in very small relative proportions, yet perhaps 
they will be found, on that very account, more 
likely to be absorbed into the system, and to effect 
cures, when larger doses of the same remedy would 
fail. It is this very circumstance which renders 
this spring worthy of public consideration. It issues 
from between the strata of limestone, the foundation 
rock of this town. 



Mechanics, who are always necessary for the 
prosperity and convenience of every place, have not 
abounded in this town as in some other places. But 
few articles have been manufactured here beyond 
the wants of the inhabitants. Improvements have 
been made in this respect, and most of the mechanic 
arts necessary for the comfort of the community, 
are now prosecuted with success. 

There are seven stores for retailing merchandize, 
all of which are doing good business on a moderate 



144 THE HISTORY OP 

scale. There are some enterprising business men in 
town, but few who are called rich, and birt few who 
are really poor. The greater part of the inhabitants 
are in moderate and thriving circumstances. The 
ardor of some of the most active business men was 
damped by the effects of the land and timber specu- 
lation some years since, when considerable loss was 
sustained by some of the most prudent. They have 
generally recovered from the shock, and there is 
evidently now an accumulation of property from 
year to year. 

There are now three clergymen, four counsellors 
at law, and three practicing physicians. 

We have three houses of entertainment, all of 
which furnish the best of accommodations to travel- 
lers and sojourners, and it is presumed that none of 
them furnish ardent spirits, to be used as a beverage. 



Hotels. — The hotels at Norridgewock, are wor- 
thy of commendation. Travellers and visitors 
speak highly of their entertainment at all of our 
public houses. 

For thirty-five years, Mr. Danforth has occupied 
his stand, where the traveller finds a home and a 
landlord attentive to his wants. 

The house formerly kept by Mr. Pike. Geo. Free- 
man, Hapgood & Brown, has recently been purchas- 
ed by Silas W. Turner, whose excellent accommoda- 
ions give good satisfaction to the public. 

Mr. Sawyer has built a large house of entertain- 
ment in the South Village, which is well furnished 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 145 

and good attention is there paid to the wants of 
travellers. 

One of the Judges of the S. J. Court resides in this 
place. The town has also furnished at diflerent 
times three Judges of Probate, three members of 
Congress, three Senators, a member of the executive 
council, an elector of President, a superintendent of 
the Insane Hospital, many county officers since the 
first establishment of the county, and military offi- 
cers of all grades in large numbers up to a Major 
General. 

The town schools are generally well attended and 
well conducted. Great effi^rts have been made 
within three years past to elevate their character. 
The committe have been vigilant, and have devoted 
much of their time to the duties of their office. A 
full report of the state of each school is annually 
made and read in open town meeting. This report 
is listened to with attention, and the schools are 
evidently improving. The Sabbath Schools are a 
credit to the place, being attended by nearly all the 
children of the villages, and by many who live 
remote from the places of meeting. 

There are several societies in town instituted for 
moral and benevolent purposes. The Somerset 
Lodge of Odd Fellows have stated meetings in their 
hall, avowedly for humane and benevolent purpo- 
ses. They have contributed largely to the relief of 
the sick and afflicted of their order during the past 
year. 

Intemperance, the parent of vice and misery has 
13* 



146 THE HISTORY OF 

been checked in this town. Some who were in the 
road to ruin have been reclaimed, and the good 
effects of the temperance reformation are every- 
where visible. There is less idleness and poverty. 
Dwelling houses are kept in repair, and more com- 
fortable and pleasant. The members of the Martha 
Washington Society deserve credit for their efforts 
to aid the poor, to relieve the distressed, and to 
assist the Washingtonians in their good work. 

Other benevolent and religious societies combine 
their efforts to do good. 

On the whole, the town now furnishes a fine 
specimen of New England habits and manners. 
We have the church and the school house ; and the 
general character of the inhabitants for intelligence, 
industry and good order,gives a desirable reputation 
to the place. Surrounded with beautiful scenery, 
the inhabitants of this town enjoy many privileges 
and blessings which call for devout gratitude and 
thankfulness to the bountiful Giver of all good. 
" The lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places, 
and we have a goodly heritage.'^ 

Nothing now remains for the present generation, 
but to practice the frugality of their ancestors, imi- 
tate their virtues, avoid their errors, improve the 
privileges they enjoy, and be contented, grateful, 
benevolent and happy. 



CHAPTER XI 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 

James Waugh, J, Waugh Jr., John Clark, Oliver Wood, Moriah 
Gould, William Faine, Peter Oilman, Solomon Bixby, John 
Ware, Richard Sawtelle, William Sylvester, W. W. Dinsmore; 
Lawyers, Physicians, Traders. 

" But there are deeds that should not be forgot, 
And names that must not wither." 

JAMES WAUGHj ESQ. 

James Waugh Esq., late of Starks, a native of 
Townsend, Mass., came to this place in 1774. He 
settled upon a lot at the "great ox bow" on Sandy riv- 
er, then called Little Norridgewock, which was con- 
sidered within the precincts of Norridgewock until 
the town was incorporated. His lot contained a hun- 
dred acres of rich intervale, and is now the most 
productive farm in the county of Somerset. It is 
owned by his son John Waugh, and James M. 
Hilton. Having built a log house, and made prepa- 
ration for raising a crop of corn, he was married to 
Bathsheba Fairfield of Vassalborough, a woman of 
eminent talents and a well cultivated mind ; and 
immediately removed to his log cabin in the begin- 



150 THE HISTORY OF 

of the Court of Sessions ; had command of a regi- 
ment of the Militia, and sustained sundry important 
civil offices in the county for several years, in a 
manner highly creditable to himself, and satisfactory 
to the public. As an officer, he was intelligent and 
active ; as a magistrate, firm and discreet, and as 
a man, upright and benevolent. 

JOHN CLARK. 

John Clark, late of this town, was born in 
Townsend, Mass., in 1753 ; came to this place in 
1774, and selected a lot for settlement, intending to 
commence clearing it the next year, but was pre- 
vented by the war. He was detached in the militia 
and enlisted for nine months and served in the army. 
He was in the breast-work at the battle of Bunker 
Hill, and retreated for more than half a mile amidst 
showers of balls and grape shot, when men were 
falling on every side. He said that at every dis- 
charge from the British, the balls rattled around 
him, reminding him of a farmer sowing peas. 
Nothing but an overruling Providence protected him; 
and the impressions made upon his mind at that 
time, were never effaced. He felt the need of a 
preparation for death, and in after times made 
religion the business of his life. After he was 
discharged he came again to this place, and took 
possession of the village lot, and worked here during 
the summers of 1776 and 1777 ; then went to 
Townsend, was married and returned with his wife 
late in November. As there were no roads , that 
were then passable, he came from Hallo well in a 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 151 

canoe with his wife and effects, amidst the snow 
and ice, and arrived safely at their log cabin. Suc- 
cessful in clearing his land and raising crops, he 
soon obtained a competency for himself and family. 

Mr. Clark soon made a profession of religion, and 
meetings upon the Sabbath were held at his house. 
Associated with Deacon Longley, Moriah Gould and 
others who had been members of the Congregation- 
al church in Massachusetts, he was always active 
in the social meetings, and thence acquired the title 
of Deacon, although no church was organized at 
that time. In 1794, when the Methodist preachers 
visited this place, Deacon Clark united with the 
first Methodist class that was formed in Norridge- 
wock. 

He established a ferry, and kept a house of 
entertainment. He was chosen the first Town 
Clerk and Selectman, which offices he filled for 
several years with fidelity. 

Deacon Clark was mild and conciliatory in his 
manners and conversation, easy and accommo- 
dating in matters of business, and a useful member 
of society. He raised up a large family, and 
died in this town, September, 1832, having had his 
name placed upon the Pension list a short time 
before his death. 

One of his sons, Asa Clark, who is now living, 
has been a member of the Executive Council, and 
held other important offices in town, county and 
State, by repeated re-elections for moreUhan a quar- 
ter of a century. 



152 THE HISTORY OF 

OLIVER WOOD, ESQ. 

Oliver Wood was for a long time the only acting 
Justice of the Peace in this town. He was advanced 
in years, and had sons of age when he came here 
in 1 774. For some time he acted as an agent for 
the Plymouth Company, and was vigilant and atten- 
tive to his duties. 

He was what might be called a gentleman of the 
old school, requiring a strict observance of the rules 
and forms of law so far as he understood them. Often 
called upon to hear complaints, he imposed small 
fines which are now winked at, such as sabbath 
breaking, defamatory words, trespasses &c. He 
probably solemnized more marriages than any 
magistrate has since done in the county. He was 
a professor of religion, and lived to old age. He 
attempted to do some business as a magistrate after 
his commission had expired. One couple, some 
years after he married them, ascertained that he 
was not a Justice at the time, and that they had not 
been legally united in wedlock, were remarried after 
they had a family of children. The following extract 
from this Justice's Record may be of interest. 

"Be it remembered, that on the first day 
of June, 1786, Calvin Paine appeared and com- 
plained of himself for breach of the Sabbath." 

Six others that year, and as many the preceeding, 
complained of themselves for a similar offence. 

" July 22, 1786. Be it remembered that Benja- 
min Hilton was complained of for breach of the Sab - 
bath for which he paid ten shillings fine." 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 153 

"Lincoln ss. October 22, 1789, Mr. Christopher 
Webb, of Canaan complained of himself for breach 
of Peace; fined 2s. and certificate ls=3s.' ' 

'' Dec. 19, 1786. Morris Fling, of Hebron was 
fomid guilty of throwing down Mr. Ferguson's 
fence, and fined twenty shillings." 

''Oct. 25, 1788. Caleb Piper, of Seven mile 
Brook, made oath that he received a counterfeit note 
of the State of Vermont, of Moses Wiley of Tem- 
pleton, in the county of Worcester, before me Oliver 
Wood, Esq." 

" April 28, 1785. This day was married Calvin 
Piper, to Zeruiah Parker, both of Norridgewock, by 
Oliver Wood Esq. 

One hundred and twenty other marriages are 
entered in the same form, between April, 1785 and 
Feb. 1, 1798. One is entered thus : 

" July 20. 1793. Personally appeared William 
Fairbrother and Miss Ruth Medcalf, and took each 
other as husband and wife, and agreed to live to- 
gether as such. Before me, Oliver Wood, Esq." 

Ephiram Wood, late of Bingham, was a son of 
Oliver Wood, Esq., and one of the first settlers. He 
lived in this town for several years, respected for 
his intelligence and Christian character. He removed 
to Bingham, where he died in 1842. 

Silas Wood, another son of Oliver Wood, Esq., 
was a soldier in the army, and came to this place 
soon after his father, and was long esteemed as one 
of the principal men of the place. He was often 
chosen Selectman and Town Treasurer, and was a 
14 



154 THE HISTORY OF 

man of integrity. He acquired a good estate, and 
a short time before his death he was placed on the 
pension list. Having suffered from age and infirmi- 
ty for many years, he died in 1834, aged eighty. 
His aged widow is still living in Chestervllie, a 
worthy woman and a pensioner. 

Simon Pierce^ was one of the early settlers of this 
town. He came here with his father, and though 
a young man, he had served as a soldier with his 
father in the Revolution. He married a daughter 
of Oliver Wood, Esq., was a man of talents and 
integrity, and an active member of the Congrega- 
tional Church. Mr. Pierce was highly respected 
by the inhabitants of this town, and was repeatedly 
chosen a member of the board of Selectmen. He 
removed to Chesterville in 1813, and died soon after. 

MORIAH GOULD. 

Moriah Gould was one of the early settlers. He 
had been a soldier of the revolution, and was at 
the time of his death, a pensioner under the act of 
1818. He was a member of the first board of Se- 
lectmen, and was highly respected for his consistent 
christian character. He was eminently pious, and 
a pillar in the church, often taking the lead in 
devotional exercises when no preacher was present, 
and his prayers were fervent. Scriptural and remark- 
ably appropriate. His manners were exemplary, 
and his conversation always devotional. He became 
lame and was under the necessity of having one 
leg amputated about twenty years before his death. 
He died September, 1826, aged 72 years. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 155 

REV. WILLIAM PAINE. 

Elder Paine, who died a few years since at Anson, 
was one of the iSrst settlers of this town. He was 
a minister of the Free Will Baptist order. When 
questioned in the S. J. Court, as to the place of his 
settlement and ordination, he replied that he was 
''regularly ordained to preach wherever God in his 
providence should call him." He was a man of 
strong sympathies, and familiar with the Scriptures. 
His pathos and aptness of illustration, though often 
somewhat fanciful, rendered his preaching highly 
interesting. He preached many years without fee 
or reward, depending on his farm for support. 
Every one who knew him considered him an excel- 
lent man. He was always listened to with attention, 
and treated by all with becoming respect. He was 
a Revolutionary Pensioner. 

PETER GILMAN. 

Peter Oilman was born in Pembroke, N. H. 
Came to this town when young, soon after his mar- 
riage, and resided here till old age. He was more 
extensively known than any other man in town, 
being the first mail carrier between this place and 
Hallowell. When a Post Oflice was first established 
in this town there was no road passable for carriages, 
and he carried the mail on horse-back for twenty 
years, following the course of the river forty five 
miles, and back once a week. 

When the road became passable for carriages, he 
went with a wagon or coach ten or fifteen years, 



156 THE HISTORY OF 

till the infirmities of age came upon him. He was 
a faithful, active man, always attentive to every 
little matter of business entrusted to him. He 
had a retentive memory; without making any 
memorandum, he always remembered the most 
trifling errands ; always cheerful and pleasant, he 
was ready to accommodate, and moderate in his 
charges for services. 

He made a public profession of religion in early 
hfe, united with the Congregational church, and 
continued a worthy member as long as he lived. 
He was a soldier in the Revolution and a pensioner. 
He died the 3d. of October, 1834, aged eighty four. 
His widow still survives in her ninety ninth year, 
and receives a pension. 

DEACON SOLOMON BIXBY. 

Deacon Bixby was an early settler in this town. 
He came from the county of Worcester, and settled 
upon the intervale lot, where his sons now live. He 
was an industrious man and an efficient member of 
society, of good habits and strict integrity. He 
served fourteen years as one of the selectmen. He 
was a professor of religion, and for many years a 
deacon of the Congregational church; an ardent 
admirer of the "doctrines of grace," and a faithful 
observer of the ordinances of religion. 

He had the best and most productive farm in 
town, and enjoyed the fruits of his labor with all 
the comforts and conveniences of life, and left a 
good estate. His sons, and sons in law, are all 
proprietors of large farms. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 157 

The name of his Savior and his pastor were 
remembered and pronounced by him after he had 
forgotten every other friend ; even the members of 
his own family. Thus while earthly things faded 
from his remembrance, the name of Jesus was 
precious to the dying saint. He died in 1835, aged 
74 years. 

JOHN WARE, ESQ. 

One of the most distinguished men who has lived 
in this town, was John Ware. He was a cooper by 
trade, a native of Groton, Mass., and came to this 
place in 1787, aged twenty years, with but a single 
suit of clothes, having been honorably discharged 
from his apprenticeship without any outfit. He 
worked at his trade in a small shop in this place, 
was industrious and frugal, and exchanging his ware 
for a few necessary articles of merchandize, com- 
menced trading in his cooper's shop. He continued 
to work and trade for two or three years, and rap- 
idly acquired property. He was then taken into 
partnership by David Moore, who had previously 
established himself as a trader in this place. The 
firm was prosperous, and in a few years, by good 
economy and the assistance of his friends, Mr. Ware 
was able to buy out his partner, with a stipulation 
that Moore should not trade within twenty miles of 
the place. Having now all the custom of the vicin. 
ity, he commenced trading on a larger scale, and 
was eminently successful. The press of business 
was many times so great that he could not leave 



158 THE HISTORY OF 

his Store from morning till night. His evenings 
were spent till a late hour in putting up small par- 
cels for customers, to be dealt out with more facility 
the next day, and in posting up his accounts. He 
pursued this course for more than twenty years, 
with occasionally a short respite, which he improved 
in collecting his debts, till the year 1817, when he 
had acquired a large estate. Then becoming dissat- 
isfied with his taxes, he removed first to Bloomfield 
and afterwards to Athens. 

He was a man of an excitable temperament, of 
quick perceptions and of a discriminating mind, 
persevering in whatever he undertook, and indefat- 
igable is his exertions to accumulate property. He 
was kind and accommodating to those he considered 
his friends, and a bitter enemy to all who opposed 
his projects. In the collection of his debts he some- 
times exercised the authority of the law with rigorous 
severity; but extended the utmost lenity to debtors 
whom he believed to be honest, and well disposed 
to him and his measures. 

He took an active part in all the prominent meas- 
ures agitated during his residence in town. He was 
a member of the committee in building the first 
meeting house, a principal proprietor in the first 
bridge across the Kennebeck, and foremost in all 
public business relating to the prosperity of the town. 
He was the Representative of the tov/n in the 
Legislature, when the county of Somerset was 
established, and exerted a great influence in the 
appointment of the first county officers. He gave 



1S0RRIDGEW0CK. 159 

the county an acre of land for a jail lot, eight hun- 
dred dollars toward the jail, and the use of a house 
for more than ten years for a court house. He was 
active in promoting what he thought would be for 
the prosperity of the county, which he had been 
the chief agent in establishing. But the result was 
different from what he had anticipated. After a 
few years, but few of the officers in the county were 
his personal or political friends, and in many cases 
those most hostile to him were promoted to office. 
He never was married; one half of his large estate, 
the value of which is estimated at two hundred 
thousand dollars, he gave to his nephew, and the 
other half he distributed capriciously among his 
relatives. He was afflicted with the dropsy for 
many years, and troubled with spectoral illusions, 
believing himself visited by supernatural messen- 
gers. Having repeatedly altered his will, one week 
before he died he had it drawn up by a skillful 
attorney; this will was contested by some of his 
relatives, and having been twice submitted to a Jury, 
was finally established, and his estate accordingly 
distributed. He died August 1, 1829. 

RICHARD SAWTELLE, ESQ. 

Mr. Sawtelle came to this place after the town 
was incorporated. He married a sister of John 
Ware and was in partnership in trade with him 
for several years. He was discreet, intelligent, 
modest and unassuming in his deportment, always 
avoiding interference in the business of others, and 



1 60 THE HISTORY OF 

Strictly honest in all his dealings. For some time 
he was sheriff of the County and discharged the 
duties of his office faithfully. He kept a house of 
entertainment many years, which at the lime, was 
considered the best on the Kennebeck river. He 
was a good farmer and a good citizen. He died in 
1839, leaving a widow and a large family, who 
inherited a considerable portion of the estate of 
John Ware. One of his sons has been twice chosen 
a member of Congress. 

WILLIAM SYLVESTER, ESQ. 

William Sylvester was a native of Wiscasset, and 
came to this place when a young man. He married 
a daughter of Ephriam Brown, one of the first 
settlers, and established himself as a tanner and 
shoemaker in this place. He succeeded in his busi- 
ness, and was esteemed by all as a peacable, discreet 
man and worthy citizen. He served as a selectman 
twelve years; three years as representative, and 
was a Justice of the peace from the time the county 
was established till he died,in 1826. He left a large 
family to lament his death and imitate his example. 
Four of his daughters, favorably situated in life, 
have since died of consumption. 

DEACON WILLIAM W. DiNSMORE. 

Deacon Dinsmore was a native of Chester N., H., 
and removed to Anson when he was but twenty 
years old, and soon after united with the Congrega- 
tional church in that place, was an active and beloved 
member, and was early chosen one of its deacons. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 161 

He removed to Norridgewock in 1815, but retained 
his connection with the church in Anson as they 
were destitute of a pastor and desired his advice 
and assistance. For eighteen years he was a mem- 
ber of the church in Norridgewock, and for thirteen 
years sustained the office of deacon. He discharged 
the duties of his office to the edification of the 
church and the honor of rehgion. Though a labor- 
ing man and having the care of a large farm, yet he 
would take time even in the most buisy season of 
the year to attend the social meetings of the church. 
He was active in promoting the prosperity of the 
church and the cause of religion, but gentle in his 
manners and humble in his deportment. Preemi- 
nently a peace-maker, "he studied the things that 
make for peace." 

His conversation and prayers were welcomed by 
the sick and afiiicted. He inculcated, both by word 
and example, the duty of sustaining the institutions 
of religion. He was an important pillar in the 
church, and such a helper as every minister needs. 
He was a cheerful contributor to the various objects 
of christian benevolence, and manifested a deep 
sympathy for the enslaved in our land; always 
active, and to some good purpose moving on some 
plan with energy, and yet without noise. Rare 
are the men who accomplish so much as he did 
with so little ostentation. 

He died suddenly, while laboring in his field, of 
apoplexy, July 26, 1848, aged 63 years. 



162 THE HISTORY OF 

LAWYERS. 

Timothy Langdon^ a brother of Gov. Langdon 
of New Hampshire, who had been Marshall of the 
Court of Admiralty in Maine, and had resided in 
Wiscasset, was the first who practiced law in this 
town. He opened an oiRce at the house of Oliver 
Wood, Esq., and was here more or less from 1795 
to 1797. He was liberally educated, but not very 
successful in his business. 

William Jones opened an office in this town in 
1802, and for a time had a large amount of business, 
but he was inattentive to the duties of his profession 
and failed of success. He was a native of Concord, 
Mass., a man of good talents and enjoyed all the 
advantages of birth and education. He had been 
appointed Major in the force which was called out 
in 1799, to quell the Pennsylvania insurrection, and 
was enraptured with military parade. After he 
came here he devoted more attention to military 
matters than to his profession, and was promoted to 
be Brigadier General. He was Judge of Probate 
three years, and also clerk of the Courts. He gave 
up entirely the practice of the law, and died insol- 
vent in 1813, although he had inherited a good 
estate from his father, and had held lucrative 
offices. 

Calvin Selden opened an office in this town in 
1809, and for four years did a large amount of busi- 
ness, and then gave up the practice of the law to his 
partner, Mr. Fairfield. Mr. Selden has three years 
been chosen Reepresentative to the Legislature. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 163 

Jotham Fairfield was a man of strong mind, 
a good scholar and a sound lawyer. He died in 
1822, having had an extensive practice. 

Henry W. Fuller came here in 1809, but soon 
returned to Augusta, where he was Judge of Pro- 
bate, and died suddenly in 1841. 

Warren Preston^ a native of Massachusetts, who 
had practiced law at Clinton, came to this town in 
1810, and had considerable business till he removed 
to Bangor in 1832. For twelve years he was the 
Judge of Probate of this county. 

Joseph Donnison^di young man of promise, an only 
son of General Donnison of Boston, opened an 
office in this town in 1810, but not succeeding in 
getting so much business as he wished, he soon 
removed to Boston. 

Augustus Alden, came to this town in 1818, and 
remained two or three years. He was a good man, 
and much esteemed, but was not successful in secur- 
ingemployment as a lawyer.and returned to Augusta. 

David Kidder practiced law in this town, prior 
to 1821. He was then chosen member of Congress, 
and was re-elected in 1824. After his time of ser- 
vice expired, he returned to Skowhegan. 

John S. Tenney opened an office in this town in 
1820. He was a native of Byfield, Mass., -and soon 
acquired an extensive practice. This continued to 
increase, until he was appointed Judge of the Su- 
preme Judicial Court, in 1841. When his first 
term of office expired, in 1848, he was re-appointed 
for another term of seven years. 



164 THE HISTORY OF 

Judge Tenney was a Representative in the Legis- 
lature, in 1837. 

Cullen Sawtelle^ a native of this town, graduated 
at Bowdoin College, in 1825, and opened an office 
in 1831, in this place. He has been a Senator in the 
Legislature, and has been twice chosen a member 
of Congress. 

Nathaniel Deer in g settled in 1822, at the lower part 
of the town, where he resided eight or ten years, 
was set off with others when the town of Milburn 
was formed, and soon after removed to Portland. 
Though diffident, he was a sound lawyer, a clas- 
sical scholar, and author of the ''Indian Tragedy 
of Carrabasset," &c. 

James Adams was a student in the office of Judge 
Tenney, and practised law in the county of Penob- 
scot, where he was clerk of the Courts for one year. 
He came to this place in 1839, and entered into 
partnership with Mr. Tenney. After Mr. Tenney' s 
appointment as Judge, Mr. Adams took the business 
of the office, and practiced with success, until his 
death, in 1848. 

John H. Webster, came to this town in 1834, 
from Bangor, to take the place of Judge Preston. 
He remained here a short time, and then removed 
to New Portland, and thence to North Anson. Re- 
moved to this place again, July 1849. 

Joh7i S. Abbott, came to this town in 1841, and 
has now a larger amount of business than any other 
lawyer in the county. He is also engaged in farming, 
and lumbering operations. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 165 

W, D. Gould^ commenced practice in the South 
Village in 1848. 

PHYSICIANS. 

William Ward, Zebulon Gilman, Spencer Pratt, 
John Harlow, Joseph Batchelder and John Fairfield 
were practising physicians in this town — in the 
order as to time in which they are named, they are 
all now dead. 

Dr. Gilman came from Pembroke, N. H. and 
was a prudent, careful practitioner, circumspect in 
his life, and pleasant in his disposition. 

Dr. Harlow J a regularly educated physician, was 
a native of Middleborough, Mass. So long as he 
attended to the duties of his profession, he was es- 
teemed by all who knew him. He was several times 
chosen town clerk and selectman. After a few years 
he gave up his practice and commenced trading in 
partnership with others, but did not succeed in trade 

Dr. Batchelder came here in 1813, he was a good 
physician and a successful practioner till he died in 
1819. 

Dr. Fair^eld was an eccentric man, he entered 
into partnership with Dr. Townsend, and practised 
in company with him a few years. He removed to 
Exeter in 1823, and died in 1847. 

Dr. Amos Townsend was a physician in Fair- 
field. After the County of Somerset was establish- 
ed, he was appointed Register of Deeds, and remov- 
ed to this place. He attended fo the duties of his 
ofiice, practised as a physician, opened a tavern, 
15 



166 THE HISTORY OF 

and has traded part of the time. He was the prin- 
cipal agent and donor in establishing the Norridge- 
wock Female Academy. He has also generously 
given to the town a lot for a burial-ground. He is 
still in practice, although the infirmities of age 
impair his usefulness. His son, Charles E. Towns- 
end, M. D. is also a practising physician in town. 

Dr. James Bates, who had been a surgeon in the 
army in 1812, settled in this town in 1819 as a 
physician and a surgeon — practised extensively 
through the county, and acquired the reputation of 
a skilful surgeon through the State. He was elected 
member of Congress in 1832 ; and in 1845, was 
was appointed the Superintendent of the Insane 
Hospital at Augusta, where he now resides. He 
was an active member of society, and gave his 
influence to promote the cause of temperance and 
morality. His experiments in scientific farming 
have tended to develope the resources of the town. 

Dr, John S. Lynde settled in this town as a 
physician in 1827, and soon acquired a good repu- 
tation as a physician. He is distinguished for his 
literary attainments — a fine writer and a scientific 
lecturer. He still continues in the practice of med- 
icine. 

Several others have attempted to establish them- 
selves in town, but have not found sufficient encour- 
agement. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 167 

- TRADERS. 

The first trader in. this place was Scott Keith, who 
opened a small store in his log cabin at Bombazeej 
about 1780, but did not succeed. The next was 
David Moore, then John Ware, at first separately, 
afterwards in partnership. John Eveleth opened a 
store in this town, but soon removed to Augusta. 
Ithamew Spaulding, Asher Spaulding and John 
Harlow, traded in company two or three years, but 
were not successfiil. John Ware, who had bought 
out his partner, David Moore, traded alone, and then 
from 1802 to 1812, in company with Richard Saw- 
telle. They sold out to Caleb Jewett, who continued 
to trade till he died, in 1835. Daniel Steward com- 
menced trade in this town in 1810, and about a year 
afterwards removed to Anson. About the same 
time Dr. Townsend commenced trade, first alone, 
and then in company with Drummond Farns worth 
in the South Village, he sold out and removed to the 
North Village in 1818, entered into partnership with 
Samuel Sylvester, and then traded alone. After ten 
or twelve years he gave up trade and removed to 
the South side of the river. 

John L. Prescott commenced trade in 1813, in the 
house now owned by Calvin Selden ; he afterwards 
went into partnership with John Lander, and they 
continued to trade ten or twelve years. 

Capt. Amos Fletcher was a grandson of William 
Fletcher, the first settler in town ; he married a 
niece of John Ware, Esq., and settled first at Car- 
ratunk. In 1813, he removed to this town and oc- 



168 THE HISTORY OF 

cupied the Sturgiss farm, but soon after entered into 
partnership in trade with Messrs. Ware and Selden. 
A large amount of business was transacted by the 
company. In 1817, Mr. Ware withdrew, and the 
business was continued by Mossrs. Selden & Fletch- 
er for several years^ when Mr. Selden relinquished 
his interest to Mr. Fletcher, who continued to trade 
till near the close of his life, Mr. Fletcher was an 
active enterprising man ; he was respected as a 
useful citizen, a correct and honest trader, and loved 
for his generosity and benevolence. He acquired a 
good estate, and received a liberal share in the dis- 
tribution of the estate of John Ware. He died in 
1830, aged 40 years. 

Samuel Sylvester commenced trade in 1816, in 
company with Caleb Jewett, then with Amos 
Townsend, and afterwards traded alone. He re- 
moved to Bangor in 1833. Judge Farnsworth was 
in trade from 1816 to 1836, and then sold out to 
Henry Butler, who still continues in trade in the 
same store in the South Village. 

In 1820, Mark S. Blunt commenced trade, and 
afterwards entered into partnership with Solomon 
W. Bates, and then with Thomas J. Copeland. Mr. 
Copeland bought out Mr. Blunt ; removed to the 
South side of the river and then went to Calais in 
1843. 

John W. Sawtelle commenced trading alone — 
then entered into partnership with Cyrus Fletcher. 
They continued in trade a year or two, and then 
Mr. Sawtelle sold out to Mr. Fletcher, who had 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 169 

formerly traded alone, having succeeded his brother 
Amos Fletcher in business. Mr. Fletcher afterwards 
entered into partnership with Solomon W. Bates, 
and in 1836, removed to Skowhegan. The business 
was continued by Mr. Bates and his brother. Dr. 
James Bates, and then in partnership with Edward 
C. Selden till 1843. Mr. Bates then gave up the 
business to E. C. Selden and his father Calvin Sel- 
den, who still continue to trade. 

In 1835, Bangs & Barrett commenced trade. The 
next year the firm was changed to Jewett and Bar- 
rett, and afterwards to Jewett & Fairfield — they 
relinquished business some time since. 

George Sawtelle, about this time, opened a store 
and continued in trade for six years. 

William H. Bodfish commenced trading in the 
South Village in 1824, and continued till 1832, 
when he sold out to John H. Sawyer, who still is in 
business. 

Jones & Spaulding have also traded in the South 
Village for four years past. 

Edward J. Peet opened a bookstore in the North 
Village of Norridgewock in the year 1836, and con- 
tinued in trade eight years. In 1844, he sold out 
his stock to Blunt & Turner, who commenced trade 
the same year, and are still doing a good business. 

John Childs commenced trade in the South Vil- 
lage in the spring of 1849. 

POST-MASTERS. 

John Ware, Richard Sawtelle, Wra. Spaulding, 
15* 



170 THE HISTORY OF 

Mark S. Blunt, George Sylvester, Moses H. Pike, 
Harrison Barrett, Joshua Gould, Mark S. Blunt, 
James French, Mark S. Blunt. 

South Norridgewock. — Drummond Farns worth, 
Henry Butler, Marshall Spaulding. 

LIST OF MARRIAGES IN NORRIDGEWOCK. 

In 1786. 

Amos Shepardson and Rebecca Winslow ; Charles Foy and 
Roanna Keith. 

1787. 

Henry BIckford and Jane Witham ; John Leighton and 
Lydia McGraugh ; Seth Spaulding and Judith Richards ; Ben- 
jamin Kitteridge and Ruth Richards ; Simon Pierce and Hep- 
zibah Wood ; John Brown and Minerva Keith ; Moses Martin 
and Anna Parker. 

1788. 

William Sylvester and Polly Brown. 

1790. 

Bryce McLellan of Canaan and Betty Sampson of Norridge- 
wock ; Jonathan Russell of Bamardston and Polly Nutting of 
Norridgewock ; James Fairbrother and Rebeccah Moore ; 
Abraham Moor and Betsey Spaulding ; James Bickford and 
Zeruiah Piper. 

1791. 

Samuel Richards and Dorcas Brown ; Charles McKenney 
and Mahala Keith ; James Smith, and Nancy Davenport ; Luke 
Withee[^and Margaret Walton ; Levi Sampson, and Polly Var- 
num. 

1792. 

Amos Adams, and Hannah Smith ; John Davidson, and Je- 
rusha Cook ; Thomas Laughton, and Polly Adams ; John Long- 
ley, and Elizabeth Heald ; Wm. Thompson, and Sally Warren. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 171 

1793. 

Stephen Weston, and Martha Gray ; William Famham, and 
Hannah Vamum ; Henry Bickford and Polly Witham. 

1794. 

Joseph Vickere, and Mary Spaulding ; Goff Moore, and Bet- 
sey McKinney ; William Ward, and Martha Bullen ; Benjamin 
Richards, and Alice Adams ; David Rowell, and Sally Spauld- 
ing ; Ebenezer Crosby, and Lydia Longley ; Sampson Parker, 
and Sally Parsons ; Luther Pierce, and Susannah Gray. 

1795. 

Charles Witherell, and Susannah Emerson ; Oliver Wood, 
and Lucy Tarbell ; David Russell, and Betsey Smith ; Jeremi- 
ah Russell, and Polly Smith. 

1796. 

Asa Longley, and Betsey Parker ; William Adams, and Elea- 
nor Crosby ; Sampson Parker, and Rachel Cobum ; William 
Withee, and Sarah Longley ; Nathaniel Withee, and Lydia 
Fairbrother ; Charles Whitcomb, and Sylera Davenport. 

1797. ' 

James Waugh, jr. and Sarah Manchester ; Charles Pierce, 
and Abigail Ayer. 

1798. 

Abijah Nutting, and Emma Adams ; Ephraim Heald, and Pol- 
ly Steward. 

1799. 

Joseph Longley, and Polly Whitcomb. 

1800. 

Levi Willard, and Anne Whitcomb ; John Eveleth and Sally 
Hale ; Josiah Crosby, and Lucy Shaw ; Samuel Cook, and 
Hepzebah Cook ; Luke Bobbins, and Sally Brown ; John Har- 
low and Nancy Greene. 

1801. 
John Longley and Judith Searle ; Caleb Gilman and Fanny 



172 THE HISTORY OP 

Famsworth ; John Moore, and Betsey Hooper ; John Whit- 
man, and Polly Pratt ; Josiah Heald jr. and Mercy Baker ; John 
Davenport jr. and Asenath Emery ; Samuel Beckey and Pa- 
tience Adams. 

1802. 

Sylvanus Sawyer, and Sally Crosby; Sylvanus Whitney, 
and Polly Lancaster ; Ezekiel Gilman, and Fanny Marshall ; 
Daniel Woodman, and Lydia Gilman ; James Dinsmore, and 
Deborah Patten ; Charles Fairbrother, and Sukey Turner. 

1803. 

Edmund Warren, and Polly Goodwin ; John Clark and Deb- 
orah Patten ; Levi Robbins, and Jane Gilman ; William Dins- 
more, and Abigail Farnham. 

1804. 

Edmund Parker, and Margaret Powers ; Jonathan Parlin, and 
Anne Nutting.; Benjamin Cleaveland, and Lydia Young ; Ben- 
jamin Adams, and Fanny Gilman ; Eben Lancaster and Betsey 
Bussell ; Samuel Searle, and Betsey Witherell ; Asaph Thomp- 
son, and Polly Wood ; Josiah Warren, and Eliza Searle. 

1805. 

John Patten, and Betsey Hilton ; Ralph Farnham, and Lucy 
Parlin ; John Whiting and Margaret Fairbrother. 

1806. 

Isaac Robbins, and Nancy Ward ; Union Spaulding, and Sal- 
ly Harvell ; Eleazer Eddy, and Deborah Moore ; Israel Dan- 
forth, and Sally Wait ; Joseph Titcomb and Dorcas Dinsmore ; 
Edmund Parker, and Margaret Famsworth : Obediah Wither- 
ell, jr. and Phebe Spaulding; Jonathan Young, and Eliza 
Leathers; John G. Neil, and Eliza Leavitt; Eben Heald, jr. 
and Lucy Warren. 

1807. 

Lorell Fairbrother, and Lydia Bragg ; Jonas Famsworth, and 
Maria Gould ; Abishai Handy, and Zipporah Laughton ; Abel 



NORRIDOEWOCK. 173 

Adams, and Sally Kitteridge ; Abijah Davis, and Pricilla Hard- 
ing ; Eben Heald, and Anna Dinsmore ; Abel Wood, and Ma- 
hala Bickford ; Job Parsons, and Sally Spaulding. 

1808. 

Francis B. Lane, and Roxinda Parlin ; William Waugh, and 
Patty Sampson ; John Kidder, and Nabby Huston ; Abiel Lan- 
caster, and Maryana Burrell ; Wm. W. Dinsmore, and Lucy 
Gould ; Thomas Wood, and Jane Barron ; Ephraim Ward, and 
Olive Turner ; Daniel Rogers and Susan Gilman. 

1809. 

Abel E. Hackett, and IMary Spaulding ; Charles Pease, and 
Hannah Washburn ; Benjamin Nutting and Susannah Foss ; 
John Ulrick, and Betsey Leeman ; David Gilman, and Polly 
Cook ; Moses French and Sarah Patten. 

1810. 

Henry Weeks of Canaan, and Anne Howard ; Thomas Heald 
jr. and Polly Rogers ; John Townsend, and Deborah Ingalls ; 
Daniel Steward, jr. and Olive Patten ; Ezekiel Heald, and Su- 
sannah Eadder ; Samuel Philbrick and Betsey White j Stephen 
Chafin, and SybU Spaulding ; Joseph Adams and Lydia Kitte- 
ridge ; John Ellis, and Lois Leathers j Reuben Dinsmore, and 
Nancy Bisbe. 

1811. 

Washington Mclntire, and Betsey Spaulding ; John Church, 
and Esther Richards ; Mark S. Blunt, and Polly Felker); John 
Davenport, and Hannah Howard ; Samuel Mace, and Mahala 
Moore ; Eli Steward, and Betsey Blagdon ; Jesse Harding, and 
Eunice Morton ; John Laughton jr. and Amity Greenleaf ; Au- 
gustus Taylor, and Mary Emerson. 

1812. 

William B. Shaw, and Cyntha Witherill ; Thomas Cook, and 
Lucy Pease ; Calvin Heald, and Maria Gould ; Isaac Kidder, Jr., 
and Sally Tarbell ; Asa Longley, and Rhoda Taylor ; Witham 



174 THE HISTORY OF 

Brooks, and Anna Cook; Edmund Parker, Jr., and Persls 
Bobbins. 

1813. 

Joseph Gilman, and Lucy Pishon ; William Soule, and Betsy 
Fairbrother ; Jessy Stone, and Lucy Emery ; Melzar Lindsey, 
and Belind Cannon ; Oliver Sewall, and Betsey Sylvester; Lovel 
Fairbrother, and Jane White ; Cyrus Kidder, and ISIary Sylves- 
ter ; John Smith, and Lucinda Whittier. 

1814. 

Silas Turner, and Esther Walker ; Luke Bobbins, and Mary 
Hebbard; Jotham Chase, and Mary Gould; Luther Heald, 
and Pheba Kidder; Warren Preston, and Mary Francis; 
Calvin Selden,and Harriet Sawtelle ; Rev. J. Peat, and Sarah A. 
Herrick ; James Walker, and Lucy Kidder ; Wm. Famsworth, 
and Susan Tarbell ; Ezekiel Emerson, and Amanda Leeman ; 
Wm. Weston, and Mary Pinkham ; David Gilhnan, and Lucy 
Bixby. 

1815. 

Peter Gilman, and Susan L. Coffin; Laban Lincoln, and 
Sybel Squire ; James McGuire, and Leah Warren ; Patrick 
McGuire, and Phebe Washborn ; Tilley Emery, and Esther 
Spaulding; Cyrus Heald, and Pamela Oakes; Joseph Baker, 
and Betsey Taylor ; Joseph Patten, and Joanna Harlow ; Mark 
S. Blunt, and Martha Drew. 

1816. 

Stephen Hlbbarb, and Jane Rollins; Henry Sewall and 
Mary Witherill; Daniel Marston, and Lydia Pratt; John 
Bobbins, and Susan Skoofield ; Isaac Hagget, and Mary Gilman ; 
Seba Smith, and Sally Lancaster ; Otis Spaulding, and Betsy 
Emery ; Eliakim Tobey, and Dorcas Clark ; Daniel Spaulding, 
and Susan Palmer ; Ephraim Washburn, and Climena Luce ; 
Samuel Cook, and Joanna Patten ; Elisha Jewett, and Hannah 
Cowan ; Hosea Washburn, and Hannah Maxim ; D. Farns- 
worth, and Charlotte Carter. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 175 

1817. 

Samuel G. Tuck, and Diantha Heald ; Eben Steward, and 
Betsey Webb ; Robey Marston, and Alice Pierce ; John Palm- 
er, and Betsey Nichols ; Samuel Sylvester, and Charlotte Heald ; 
Richard Gilman, and E. Harding. 

1818. 

Francis Allen, and Polly Taylor; Steven Hibberd, and 
Mary Stephens ; Zebulon Gilman, Jr., and Eliza Chandler ; 
Nicholas Kimball, and IVIary Beedle; Alden Fuller, and 
Melinda Gould; Ezekiel Heald, and Sally Tozer; Solomon 
Bates, 2d., and Asenath Spaulding ; Wm. Lawry, and Submit 
Richards ; Geo. B. Weston, and Abigail Hight ; Artcmas Heald, 
and Jane Cook ; Phineas Whitney, and IVIary Emerson ; Thurs- 
ton Heald, and Lydia Gould ; Jonathan Hibberd, and Elizabeth 
Greenleaf ; John French, and Charlotte Hibberd ; Daniel Ladd, 
and Abigail French ; Stephen Weston, Jr., and Rebeccah Webb ; 
Gowen Riggs, and Pamela Pratt. 

1819. 

John Brown, and Sally Smith; John R. Philbrick, and 
Hannah White ; Joseph Russell, and Mary Kimball ; Oliver C. 
Blunt, and Sarah Fletcher ; Reuben Whitney, and Lucy Saw- 
yer; Lucas Brown, and Polly Bosworth; Samuel Pierce, and 
Baston; Rufus Bixby, and Betsey Weston; Amasa Bixby, and 
Fanny Weston. 

1820. 

Samuel K. White, and Cynthia Barrett ; John Loring, and 
Hannah Faulkner ; Ephraim Fairbrother, and Polly Grant; 
Wm. H. Rogers, and Lydia Metcalf; Freeborn Ellis and Eu- 
nice Withee ; Isaac Cook, and Charlotte Ferrand ; Francis 
Baicher, and Elizabeth Tripp; Charles Staples, and IVIary 
Fickett; Ziba Russell, and Hannah Moore; Wm. Spencer, and 
Betsey Richards; D. H. Tuck, and Sally Witherell ; Eliphalet 
Lane, and Lydia Trask; John Pierce, and Elizabeth B. 
Harding; Crosby Mitchell, and Mary Fling; Ai-thmas Heald, 



176 THE HISTORY OF 

and Diadama Blxby; Joseph Baston, and Lucinda Heald; Isaac 
K. Pierce, and Loisa Chute ; Rufus J. Woodward, and Leah 
Witherell. 

1821. 

Joseph Pratt, Jr., and Betsey Wood ; Asa Dutton, and Lucy 
Spaulding ; Luke Withee, and Sophia Pollard ; Sherbom N. 
Marston, and Lydia Baston ; Dr. Zebulon Oilman, and Susanna 
Mitchell; Nahum Brown, and Agnes Gihnan ; Charles Gifford, 
and Mary Reed; Samuel Smith, and Dolly Whorff; James 
Pierce, and Mercy Heald; Samuel Taylor, Jr., and Lydia 
Boardman ; James Allen, and Naomi Sylvester. ^ 

1822. 

Ephraim Currier, and Betsey Pomroy ; Luther Laughton, and 
Patty Nutting ; Wm. McKechnie, and Catharine Bradbury ; 
Allen Barston, and Betsey Marston ; Ephraim Washburn, and 
Louisa Harvell ; Emmons Whitcomb, and Lydia Smith ; Josiah 
M. Haines, and Bathsheba Waugh ; Foster T. Palmer, and 
Orpha Woodbury ; Arthur Spaulding, and Sarah T. Thompson ; 
Hanson Hight, and Caroline Ferrand. 

1823. 

Amos A. Richards, and Betsey Witherell ; Stephen Morton, 
and Betsey Parlin ; John H. Withee, and Mary Washburn ; 
Ichabod Russell, and Philena Sawyer ; John S. Longley, and 
Jane Crosby; Abel Davis, and Betsey McGlathery ; Caleb 
Jewett, and Caroline R. Fairfield; Samuel Woodman, and 
Charlotte Heald; Nathaniel M. Stevens, and Betsey T. Hinds; 
Zachariah Withee, and Policy Longley ; Seth Laughton, and 
Lucy H. Wood ; J. C. Bigelow, and EHza B. Pishon ; Hollis 
Whitcomb, and Mary Frizzell ; John Parker, and Lucy Longley ; 
William Nichols, and Fanny Nutting; B. E. Cayford, and So- 
phia White. 

1824. 

• Asher Adams, and Eliza Pollard ; N. W. Morse, and Mary 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 177 

Montague ; Levi Flint, and Abigail Brown ; Asa Clark, and 
Sophia Bates ; David Withee, and Clemena Kelley. 

1825 

Benjamin Howe, and Polly Wells ; Allen Baston, and Mary 
Marston; Daniel Bowden, and Frances C. Smart; Samuel 
Searle, and Catharine A. Wilson ; George V. Edes, and Susan 
Witherell ; Jonathan Davis, and Eliza Dunlap ; Eben H. Neil, 
and Mary Fletcher; Rufus Merrill, and Martha Woodman. 

1826. 

James Trench, and Mary W. Nutter; John Adams, and Mary 
J. Townsend ; Peter Merrill, and Lavina Bowden ; Samuel 
Emery, and Hannah Baston ; Jesse Eichards, and Susan Mc- 
Nelley ; Jesse Withee, and Lois Black well ; Alvan Nutting, and 
Lydia Longley ; Israel Wells, and Cynthia Baston ; Otis IMitch- 
ell, and Mahitable Preble ; Harlow Getchell, and Anna Whit- 
comb. 

1827. 

Winthrop Norton, and Betsey Gould ; Alfred Leathers, and 
Thankful Frizzle ; Horace Dagget, and Jane Coburn ; Justus 
Kirby, and Mary Chapen ; Thomas Spaulding, and Almira 
Spaulding ; Calvin Boyd, and Elizabeth Parlin ; James Bigelow, 
and Loisa Abba ; Joseph Leeman, and Eliza Gilman ; Obadiah 
Baston, and Betsey Decker ; Jason Hinds, and Celia Tobey ; 
Peter Gilman Jr., and Lydia Allen ; Solomon Bixby, and 
Achsah Wyman ; Jesse Tarbell, and Betsey S. Sturgess ; Be- 
thuel Burgess, and IVIary Sturdefant ; Samuel G.\ Tuck, and 
Almira Dudley ; Samuel Whitman, and Hannah Jones. 

1828. 

Calvin Laughton, and Serena Haynes ; Samuel B. Witherell, 

and Martha G. Stevens ; Henry Wilder, and Sabrina Baston ; 

William Palmer, and Lydia Mack; Gorham Greeley, and 

Harriet B. Holoway ; Israel Brown, and Almira Trask ; Niran 

16 



178 THE HISTORY OF 

Bates, and Charlotte L. Dennett ; Joseph Baker, and Charity 
Blackwell ; Elihu W. Withee, and Naomi Adams. 

1829. 

Charles Folsom, and Elizabeth Judkins ; John W. Sawtelle, 
and Caroline Sylvester ; James M. Haynes, and Sarah Jewett ; 
Aaron C. Bigelow, and Lucinda Bobbins ; Jabez Trask, and 
Hannah Cook ; Nathan Laughton, and Sarah Adams ; Harvey 
Vickere, and Elizabeth H. S. Longley ; Cyrus Fletcher, and 
Martha Sawtelle ; James Phillips, and Bachel Davis ; Edward 
Bowe, and Adaline Butterick ; Daviel Adams, and Naomi 
Steward. 

1830. 

Simeon Bobbins, and Boxana Allen ; David Harding, and 
Susan Woodman ; Thomas C. Jones, and Judith Spaulding ; 
Joshua Johnson, and Frances E. Moore ; James Stinson, and 
Martha Bussell ; Solomon W. Bates, and Mary Ann S. Niel ; 
Amos Adams, and Sarah Hackett ; Cullen Sawtelle, and Eliza- 
beth Lyman ; Thomas J. Copeland, and Julia E. Townsend ; 
Edward Jones, and Boxinda Steward ; Elias Works, and Mar- 
garet Sheaf; Levi Mclntire, and Judeth Woodman ; Joseph 
Pomeroy, and Eliza Patten. 

1831. 

Seth Parlin, and Nancy P. Tufts ; Francis B. Longley, and 
Deborah Blackwell ; Nathan Wood, and Anny Waugh ; Bely 
W. Betts, and Sarah Bussell ; William B. Knight, and Irene 
Nutter ; Edward G. Sturgess, and Eliza Kelsey ; John Nutting, 
and Elizabeth B. Gray; Alvan Mclntire, and Susan B. Bogers; 
Beuben Foster, and Bebecca Walton ; Eusebius Heald, and 
Philena Dinsmore ; Jacob Littlefield, and Joanna Pomeroy ; 
James Trench, and Buth Shaw. 

1832. 

Amos Shed, and Sybil Longley; John W- Mitchell, and 
Fanny Morton ; George Prescott, and Charlotte Searle ; Ira 
Loring, and Betsey Eaton ; Lovel F. Withee, and Lydia G. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 179 

Frederick ; John C. Page, and Fanny A. Gould ; John Brown, 
and Sarah Livingston ; Sumner Bixby, and Lucy Heald ; Henry 
Preble, and Olive Bowden. 

1833. 

William Kidder, and Philena Gilman ; Hon. D. Fams- 
worth, and Meroe Sylvester ; Jonathan Bigelow, and INIilissa 
Abbee; John E. Knight, and Sarah Morse; Ira Town, 
and Elizabeth B. Kilgore ; Wm. Tobey 2d., and Ruth Norton; 
J. C. Bigelow, and Thankful Bowden; Jones Parlin, and Nan- 
cy P. Bodfish ; Augustus J. Rowe, and Sybil W. Fletcher ; 
Domlnicus Mitchell, and Christiana Dunlap ; Amory Prescott, 
and Hannah W. Searle ; George Warren, and Rebecca Pres- 
cott ; Eben. E. Russell, and Abagail Waugh ; Charles Loring, 
and Elizabeth Emerson. 

1834. 

James Withee, and Hannah H. Rogers; Ira Searle, and 
Amanda M. Osborn ; Aaron Bickford, and Rosilla Preble; 
Miles Leathers, and Betsey W. Rogers : Charles S. Weaver, 
and Mary Trafton ; Moses Littlefield, and Caroline R. Parker ; 
James Mellein, and Eunice Withee ; Zebulon Butler, and So- 
phronia Philbrook ; James P. Longley, and Mary Ann Dudley ; 
Matthias Whaland, and Charlotte Pomeroy ; Benjamin Baker, 
and Mary Adams. 

1835. 

Amasa Cobb, and Betsey S. Tarbelle ; Johnson Bowen, and 
Jerusha Woodward ; Stephen Bowden, and Matilda Bickford ; 
Solomon Bates, and Anstes Allen ; Augustine W. Cromwell, 
and Charlotte Varney ; James P. W ithee, and Sophrona Pease; 
Barney Harny, and Ruby G. Colburn ; Ephraim Withee, and 
Deborah Grant ; Artemas H. Wood, and Sarah C. Wosson ; 
John S. Abbott, and Elizabeth T. Allen ; Albert P. Warren, 
and Mary W. Shaw ; Melzar Lindsay, and Elia G. Marston. 

1836. 

Samuel B. Witherell 2d., and Alathea Keen ; Samuel Jewett, 



180 THE HISTORY OF 

and Lydia E. Drew ; Abraham T. Tilton, and Lucy Parker, Ed- 
mund Smith, and Emma Nutting ; Solomon Low, and Olive R. 
Hill ; Jesse Maxim, and Louisa Pratt ; Warren Preble, and 
Philina Bowden ; William Trafton, and Emaline Baston ; Daniel 
M. Baker, and Mary J. Gillman ; Wm. S. Savage, and Nancy 
B. Ferrin ; Jonas Davis, and Eliza Robinson ; Thomas Cook, 
and Abigail Butterfield; Albert G. Manley, and Sarah H. 
Hill ; Levi Powers, and Mehitable H. Boardman ; Moses T. 
Emery, and Clarissa Staples. 

1837. 

Silas W. Thompson, and Maria Hussey ; Joseph Taylor, and 
Ruth J. Morton ; James H. Stevens, and Sophrona Barker ; 
Henry Butler, and Mary A. Farnsworth ; Orrin Gibbs, and 
Clarissa Bessey ; George A. Fairfield, and Eliza Warren ; Hora- 
tio N. Page, and Hannah Page ; Charles Lander, and Sarah 
Arnold ; Joshua R. Taylor, and Lydia Eaton ; Stephen Savage, 
and Sabrina Wood. 

1838. 

Sumner Chapin, and Lucinda Adams ; Samuel Tobey, and 
Nancy HoUbrook ; Charles D. Farren, and Mary A. Savage; 
Wm. Trentham, and Catharine Withee ; Charles Barker, and 
Fanny Gilman ; Warren Nutting, and Sarah Sally ; Georg-e 
Sawtelle, and Sarah H. Peet ; Nathan Wood 2d., and Mary 
Gilman ; Abner Kirby, and Mary Garland ; Joshua Gilmore, 
and Amelia Howard ; Cornelius N. Butler, and Mary Sawyer ; 
Caleb Strong Searle, and Mary A. Ward ; Sumner Bixby, and 
Sarah H. Carlisle ; Charles N. Bodfish, and ]SIary A. Wyman; 
Almiran Tozer, and Lydia Dunlap ; Ward S. Hutchins, and 
Cynthia Mitchell. 

1839. 

Washington Woodman, and Lucinda Bradbury ; Thatcher 
Heald, and Susan L. Crosby ; Gustavus L. Wyman, and Julia 
Ann Cummins ; H. G. O Lindsey, and Mary Anderson David 
Sturgess, and Harriet Mason ; Albion S. Dudley, and Lydia 
F. Manley ; James S. Manley, and Caroline G. Sewall ; Eber 
Davis, and Emily Powers. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 181 

1840. 

Simon Dinsmore, and Sarah J. Longley ; Ephraim R. Pres- 
cott, and Nancy Morse ; George E. Freeman, and Polina A. 
Drew ; James B. Farnsworth, and Lydia C. J. Bates ; David 
D. Blunt, and Lucinda G. Bishop ; Richard Bigley, and Anny 
Cook ; Isaac Haggett, and Seviah Davis ; Edward Selden, and 
Mary Merrill ; Reuben Bobbins, and Charlotte Sawyer ; Pat- 
rick McCooley, and Ami McCooley ; David M. Barker, and 
Mary G. Mclntire ; William Heald, and Esther Cutter ; John 
Kilgore, and Fanny Young; James Wood 2d., and Elizabeth 
Blackwell. 

1841. 

Levi O. Savage, and Mary Benson ; Ezekiel Emmons, and 
Olive W. Taylor ; Orren L. Farnsworth, and Clarissa A. Tobey; 
Elmer Lathrop, and Lucetta Dinsmore ; Charles Russell, and 
Susan Smith ; John McGuire, and Esther Mason ; William 
K. Barrett, and Eliza A. Russell ; John H Loring, and Ann B. 
Trafton ; Charles D. Ferren, and Mary Walker ; Abel Adams 
Jr., and Mary C. Blackwell; David Sylvester, and Susan 
Wood ; Oliver HufF, and Cordelia Boine ; Jonathan Spaulding, 
and Judith Walton ; Moses M. Gould, and Helen L. Hinkley ; 
Samuel Beckey, and Eleanor Kennedy ; Allen S. Davis, and 
Pheby Greene ; Charles A. Bates, and Margaret J. Farnsworth. 

1842. 

Levi Parker, and Catharine R. Searle ; Heman Leathers, and 
Sarah Rogers ; Wm. P. Longley, and Roseann Heald ; Silas W. 
Turner, and Eliza H. W. Hill ; John Loring, and Clarissa Lo- 
throp ; Aaron Ring, and ISIary T. Toundy ; Thomas C. Jones, 
and Mary L. Tower ; Ebenezer Vaughan, and Loiza Piper ; 
Jonas Hilton, and Louisa F. Heald; Aaron Bickford, and 
Mary A. Bowden. 

1843. 

Sewall Nutting, and Sarah Jane Nutting ; Wm. W. Morton, 
and Abigail B. Blackwell ; Rowland B. Ramsdell, and Lvdia 

16* 



182 THE HISTORY OP 

Adams ; Samuel Brown, and Sarah Washburn ; Edward C. 
Selden, and Mary Ann C. Bates ; George W. Witherell, and 
Sarah W. Savage ; Franklin Danforth, and Eliza A. Rogers ; 
Jotham S. Bixby, and Mary Wood ; Jonathan S. Longley, and 
Lucy L. Heald ; Silas T. Longley, and Frances Sturgess. 

1844. 

Noah Woods, and Sarah W. Ballard ; E. M. Coffin, and 
Sarah Myrah ; Prescott Nutting, and Sarah W. Rogers ; Clem- 
ent Bell, and Sophronia Dunlap ; Winthrop Norton, Jr., and 
Harriet Gray ; B. F. Mclntire, and Lydia W. Taylor ; Daniel 
H. Linscott, and Harriet N. Mills ; Loring B. Jones, and Sa- 
mantha Hilton ; Isaac W. Page, and Dolly Parkman ; Lewis 
Allen, and Julia Ann Purrington ; John Richardson, and Betsey 
Hilborn ; Selden Wade, and Harriet Blackwell ; Solomon W. 
Bates, and Elizabeth D. Dennis ; William T. Haynes, and La- 
vinia Wasson ; John Holbrook, Jr., and Lydia Hall ; Caleb 
Wood, and Mary Foss. 

1846. 

Charles Danforth, and Julia J. Dinsmore; David Stur- 
gess, and Betsey Taylor; George W. Taylor, and Eliza- 
beth Bigelow ; Sylvanus Morse, and Emily E. Black- 
well ; Sanborn Dinsmore, and Nancy D. H. Boardman ; James 
B. Wood, and Ruth Cutler ; Luther E. Allen, and Sarah R. 
Baston; Zachariah W. Nutting, and Seviah Nutting; Charles 
A. Bates, and Ellen A. Drew ; Alfred Stackpole, and Phebe W. 
Hackett ; John Kilgore, and Rebeccah Arnold. 

1846. 

Charles K. Turner, and Lucinda H. Page ; Amory Prescott, 
and Lucy P. Blackwell; George Farnsworth, and Susan B. 
Farnsworth; George Rogers, and Clarissa N. Taylor; Wellington 
Hale, and EHza Ann Hussey ; Eusebius Heald, and Lucy M. 
Dinsmore ; Henry E. Haggett, and Pauhna S. Wade ; Albert 
H. Parks, and EHza A. Mclntire ; Cyrus Bosworth, and Mary 
A. Parker. 

1847. 

Seth Cutler, and Sarah J. Larnard; Joshua Jewett, and 
Mary Jane O. Hara ; Joseph D. Gilman,and Florilla D. Fol&om; 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 1S3 

William Q. Wheeler, and Martha J. McRillis ; Wm. H. Taylor, 
and Julia Ann Kilgore ; George W. Barker, and Elmira VVaugh; 
William W. French, and Sophia A. Otis ; Hugh Dempsey, and 
Maria Wheeler ; Simon N. ,Taylor, and Martha H. T. Rogers ; 
Daniel Ayers, and Irene Kigers. 

1848. 

Freeman Sawyer, and Elizabeth M. Anderson; Cephas R. 
Vaughan, and Lucinda Bosworth; Isaiah A. Pierce, and Maria 
Thompson; Charles B. Barker, and Mary J. Boynton; Elisha 
Vi. Barker, and Lydia Sawyer; Lucas Brown, and Sarah 
Ward ; Orrin Tinkham, and Dolly W. Crane ; James B^ 
Wheeler, and Clarina Mclntire; Abraham W. Freeman, and 
Nancy Parlinn; Justin E. Heald, and Caroline Witherspoon; 
William C. Rogers, and Fidelia Brooks; John S. Hall, and Ro- 
sannaMurr}^; Ezekiel Jones, Jr., and Lavinia Emerson; Mar- 
shall Spaulding, and Frances T. Lynd; Charles H. Weston, and 
Susan A. Laughton; Edward W. Tobey, and Emeline Holway. 

1849. 

Joseph Grossman, and Winneford Peters ; Isaac H. Perkins, 
and Lydia Cook ; Jason L. Taylor, and Clarissa J. Morton ; 
James B. Brown, and Philena D. Savage ; Orville W. Tink- 
ham, and Clarissa Holbrook ; Owen B. Taylor, and IVIartha J. 
Taylor. 



CHAPTER XIII 



ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS. 

They have left unstained what there they found, 
Freedom to worship God. — Pilgeim Fathers. 

General Religious Character, Jesse Lee, Methodist Society, 
Extracts from the Records of the Congregational Church, 
Baptist Churches, Free-will Baptists, Unitarians, Univer- 
salists. 

The proprietors of the land in this town, at the 
time of the settlement, and nntil after the town was 
incorporated, being aware of the importance of coun- 
tenancing the support of religious institutions, and 
being desirous to encourage the settlement on their 
lands, proposed to give each settler two hundred 
acres of land, who should, within a limited time estab- 
lish himself permanently thereon ; and among other 
duties enjoined in their deeds, each settler was 
required ''to work upon the ministerial lot, or in 
building a house of public worship of God two days 
in a year, for ten years to come, when required by 
the standing committee of the propriety, or their 
agent, and also comply with all town regulations." 

The early settlers in Norridgewock, although far 
removed beyond the limits of any place of public 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 185 

worship, and deprived of religious privileges and 
ordinances, did not forget the pious instructions 
which they received in their youth, nor the precepts 
of their fathers, who were descendants of the Pil- 
grims, but made arrangements among themselves, 
without the assistance of any ecclesiastical council 
or church, for the due observance of the Sabbath. 
The principal settlers were professedly pious, and 
established and sustained religious meetings on the 
Sabbath, called reading meetings, in which the 
scriptures and the works of Dr. Doddridge and other 
eminent divines, were read with singing and prayer. 

John Clark was one of the leaders in these meet- 
ings at first, and he continued to take an active part 
in the association when no preacher was present, 
for sixteen years, and was called " the deacon ;" 
although it does not appear that any church was 
organized among them during that time. Moriah 
Gould, when he arrived, united with the association, 
and was an active and efficient leader in these meet- 
ings ; also deacon Zachariah Longley, who had 
been an officer in a Congregational church in Mas- 
sachusetts ; when he arrived in 1781, joined with 
them and took part in their religious exercises. 

They were occasionally visi'ted by missionaries 
or ministers of different denominations after 1780. 
Rev. Dr. Whittaker, a Presbyterian clergyman, was 
settled in Canaan at that time. And about the same 
time the Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, a settled Congre- 
gational minister in Georgetown, at the mouth of 
the Kennebec, being disturbed in his pastoral rela- 



196 THE HISTORY OF 

tions by the events of the war, and being desirous 
to be in a place of greater safety, removed his fami- 
ly to this town, where they remained for four years. 
Two of his daughters were married to citizens 
of this town; one to Josiah Heald, the miller, who 
was the father of a large family, of whom Deacon 
Ezekiel Heald is one, who is still living, the other to 
Charles Witherell, who was a revolutionary soldier 
and pensioner in his life time, now deceased. Mrs. 
Witherell is still living in Dover, Maine. They 
raised up a large family ; one of their sons, Samuel 
Brint Witherell, resides in this town. 

Mr. Emerson, during the time his family resided 
m Norridgewock, preached to the people here oc- 
casionally, and retained his pastoral relations with 
his church in Georgetown, and after four years, an 
ecclesiastical council decided that it was his duty to 
return to his original charge, and he returned to that 
place with his family; but visited this place and 
preached here part of the time afterwards. In 1788, 
this town employed him to preach to the amount of 
one hundred dollars ; but some being unable to pay 
their proportion, the sum was raised by voluntary 
contributions. 

In 1790, Rev. Mr. Little of Kennebunk, was em- 
ployed by the Massachusetts Missionary Society, 
and preached in this town and vicinity a short time. 
Rev. Mr. Mussey was employed by the town for a 
year from the time he commenced preaching. 

In 1793, Rev. Jonathan Calef was employed to 
preach a short time. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 187 



METHODIST CHURCH. 



In 1794, Rev. Jesse Lee, the founder of Metho- 
dism, under God, not only in this place, but in New- 
England, preached the first Methodist sermon in this 
town. He was born in Virginia — his parents were 
respectable members of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church, and he received a strictly christian educa- 
tion; was a man of rare talents, embraced religion 
under the influence of the Holy Spirit through 
Methodist preaching, when he was sixteen years of 
age. 

In April, 1782, he was admitted a member of the 
conference, and commenced his labors as a travelling 
preacher, and was appointed in various places from 
year to year to 1793, when he first explored the 
District of Maine, and preached for the first time in 
Norridgewock, March 11, 1794, exciting the utmost 
attention wherever he went, laying out work for his 
coadjutors who might follow him. The Kennebec 
circuit was formed in 1796, which embraced Nor- 
ridgewock and all the towns on the river above and 
the towns adjacent, and was afterwards called the 
Norridgewock Circuit. During this year the first 
class of the Methodists was formed in this town, 
consisting of twelve or fifteen members. The whole 
number of Methodists in Maine at this time was 
three hundred and fifty-seven, but no returns were 
made from this circuit till 1798. 

In 1797, Rev. Cyrus Stebbins was appointed to 
this circuit. 

In 1798, Rev. Jesse Stoneman who reported the 



188 THE HISTORY OF 

whole number in his circuit, one hundred and tniy- 
three. 

In 1799, Rev. Roger Searle was on this circuit. 

In 1800, Rev. Epaphras Kibby. There was a 
revival during this year, and the number of mem- 
bers in this town then exceeded twenty ; but was 
afterwards reduced by removals and deaths from 
year to year to 1816 to 1820, when it did not exceed 
twelve. The limits of the circuit have been chang- 
ed so often and so many variations made, that the 
original records cannot now be found. When the 
number was small, they were attached sometimes to 
one circuit and then to another, and during several 
years but little regular preaching was had, and that 
in a remote part of the town. The following preach- 
ers have been employed a portion of the time in this 
town since 1800, namely : 

Rev. Messrs. Snelling, Heath, Webb, Fairbanks. 
Newell, Atwell, Luce, Hutchin, Greenleaf, and 
Gorham Greeley, Robinson, Ward, Drew, Lord, 
Blake, True, Alton, Hutchinson, Allen, Church, 
Downing, Thurston, Hill, Nickerson, and several 
others. Rev. Obed Wilson, a local preacher, was 
employed one fourth part of the time in 1819, and 
part of the time for two or three following years, 
when there was no regular Methodist preaching in 
the village. 

There was quite a revival under the labors of 
Rev. Greenleaf Greeley in 1826, and the number in 
this town then exceeded thirty, since that time some 
have been added, but more have removed or died, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 189 

or withdrawn, so that the number now is but twen- 
ty-five, two have died during the year past, and 
two have removed. The society has never been 
able to support preaching more than one fourth part 
of the time. 

Members of the Methodist Society in Norridge- 
wock, 1849. 

John Bates, Class Leader. 

Susan Farns worth, Eliakim Tobey, 

Hannah Allen, Richard Swift, 

Cyrus Heald, Mrs. Swift, 

Pamela Heald, Josiah Butler 2d., 

Charlotte Heald, ^ Joseph L. Savage, 

Wm. H. Rogers, Mrs. Savage, 

Lydia Rogers, Moses Brown, 

Sarah Longley, Mrs. Brown, 

Cynthia Clark, Joel Mclntire, 

Nancy Harlow, David G. Frederick, 

Paulena Whalin, Hannah G. Frederick, 

Sarah Allen. 
Samuel Smith and Rhoda Longley died in 1848. 
17 



190 THE HISTORY OF 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

Several clergymen of this denomination early- 
visited this town. Rev. Ezekiel Emerson is sup- 
posed to have preached the first English sermon in 
this town. He preached in this place occasionally, 
previous to its incorporation in 1788. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Mr. Mussey, Little, and Calef. 

In 1796, Rev. Phinehas Randall visited this town 
and spent some time in' acceptable and successful 
labors. An extensive revival occurred under the 
preaching of Mr. Randall. Fifty in this place and 
vicinity became the hopeful subjects of renewing 
grace. 

Of the fruits of this reformation which occurred 
in 1796, a Congregational '^church was gathered in 
Norridgewock, and organized Sept. 22, 1797, con- 
sisting of 24 members. The ecclesiastical council, 
called for the purpose, was composed of the follow- 
ing pastors and delegates from the churches, viz. : 
Rev. Ezekiel Emerson, Pastor, and Bro. Isaiah 
Wyman, delegate from the church in Georgetown. 
Rev. Jona. Calef, Pastor, and Bros. William Stew- 
ard and Solomon Clark from the church in Canaan, 
Bros. Jason Livermore and Henry Sewall from the 

*NoTE. — " Feb. 1797. As yet there was no church in town. The 
inhabitants seemed to think it important that there should be one, and 
inserted in the warrant for town meeting in February, the following ar- 
ticle, viz. : ' To see if the town will vote to establish a church in this 
town in the Congregational order.' When assembled the town very 
wisely voted to dismiss the article, probably feeling sensible that this 
was not the proper course to effect so desirable an end. Council as- 
sembled to form the church in Sept. of that year."— [Greenleaf's Ec- 
clesiastical Sketches of Maine. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 191 

church in Hallowell. Rev. Mr. Emerson was cho- 
sen moderator, and Bro. Henry Sewa 11 Scribe. Tlie 
following persons were examined as to their qualifi- 
cations for membership, viz. : Moriah Gould, John 
Cook, Simon Pierce, Jona. Robbins, Amos Adams 
Solomon Bixby, Jas. Thompson, .Tosiah Spaulding, 
Edmund Parker, Robert Whitcomb, Amos Adams 
jr., David Pierce, Martha Gilman, Eliza Robins, 
Susanna Kidder, Margaret Farnsworth, Hannah 
Farnham, Esther Richards, Mary Spaulding, Olive 
Pierce, Isabel Thompson, Mary Parker, Lucy Wood, 
Sarah Warren. The examination being satisfacto- 
ry, the council voted, the above named persons, 24 
in number, be incorporated into a Congregational 
church in Norridgewock ; and they are incorporated 
accordingly. 

Signed, Ezekiel Emerson, Moderator. 

Attest: Henry Sewall, Scribe. 

Their confession of faith and covenant, were sub- 
stantially the same as those adopted by the evangel- 
ical Congregational churches generally in Massaclm- 
setts. 

The first moderator was Moriah Gould, and Wm. 
Sylvester the first clerk. Eighteen other members 
were received into the church the same year, and 
six were added during the year following. Daring 
this, and a part of the next year, they were supplied 
with occasional preaching by Rev. Messrs. Emerson, 
McLain of Bristol, Ward of New Milford, and 
Gillet of Hallowell. -Also by Rev. J. Sewall, who 
was hired to preach half the time for six months. 



192 THE HISTORY OF 

By the same they were supplied occasionally during 
the three following years, in which time four were 
added to their number. 

Among some by laws adopted by the church, are 
the following, viz. : One brother shall not commence 
a suit at law with another. 

One brother shall not defame the character or 
speak evil of another. 

Every brother having a family, for the neglect or 
omission of family worship, shall be liable to church 
action in such way as they shall deem proper. 

No heresy shall be tolerated in members of 
church. 

Members of the church in town, especially males, 
shall attend public worship, and church meetings, 
unless prevented by the hand of providence ; and for 
their carelessness or wilful neglect, shall be subject 
to admonition. 

In 1801, Rev. M. Wines preached a Sabbath or 
two, and Rev. Mr. Sewall occasionally. Some time 
in 1802, Rev. Mr. Stetson moved into the place, and 
was employed to preach a part of the time for two 
years or more, and some efforts were made by the 
church to form a religious society, with a view to 
settling him, but the effort was not successful. Mr. 
Stetson being rather ultra in his sentiments, in some 
instances, " cut off the ears of people by his preach- 
ing," as he was told by a brother in the ministry. 
Some time in 1804, hejeft the place, and has since 
become a Universalist. 

The same year Rev. Mr. Marcy was hired on 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 193 

trial, with a view of settling him. But subsequently 
" the town voted not to settle or hire him." Iii 
1806, the church hired Rev. Mr. Sewall, in the hope 
of effecting a settlement. But did not obtain the 
object. Eight members were added this year. 

1807. After being destitute a long time, they were 
visited by Rev. Mr. Sawyer, who administered the 
ordinances. After him. Rev. Mr. Oliver preached 
a Sabbath, and in 1808, Rev. Mr. Sewall preached 
occasionally. In 1809, the church made a formal 
application to Mr. Sewall, to settle with them ; but 
received a negative answer. He however preached 
for them occasionally ; as also did Rev. Mr. Cay- 
ford. A season of fasting and prayer was observed, 
with a view of obtaining the settlement of a minis- 
ter. In 1810, they were cheered with the prospect 
of obtaining the object they so much desired. Mr. 
Allen Greely visited them, at their invitation, and 
preached two Sabbaths ; then left to spend two or 
three Sabbaths in Turner, according to a previous 
engagement, giving encouragement liowever, that 
he would then return and preach on probation, as 
requested. But soon after the church received a 
letter from Mr. Greely, informing them, to their great 
disappointment, that he had concluded to remain in 
Turner, where he subsequently settled. 

In the autumn of the same year, they were visit- 
ed by a Mr. Beardsley, sent by the Maine Mission- 
ary Society, to preach four Sabbaths. This called 
forth an effort on the part of the church, to raise by 
subscription, two hundred dollars, which would se- 
17* 



194 THE HISTORY OF 

cure his services half the time for a year. But not 
being able to raise the amount by $70, the etibrt 
failed. Mr. Beardsley left, and they were again 
destitute. In 1811, the church voted to observe the 
quarterly concert of prayer, which was observed to 
some extent in New England. In July of this year, 
Mr. Harvey Loomis visited the place, as a mission- 
ary, and preached three Sabbaths, then left for Ban- 
gor — giving encouragement that he would soon re- 
turn and preach as a candidate for settlement ; and 
measures were taken to effect the object of a settle- 
ment. Meantime Mr. Willard Preston, a missiona- 
ry, preached a Sabbath or two. Mr. Sewall also, 
and administered the sacrament. And here the 
clerk writes, " This is the 23d time the sacrament 
has been administered to this church, and yet we 
have no pastor. But we have a gleam of hope, that 
we may obtain Mr. Loomis." Soon after, he wrote 
again. " Our hopes were all blasted. Mr. Loom- 
is settled in Bangor." 

In Nov. same year, Rev.Benjamin Rice came into 
the place, sent by the Massachusetts Missionary So- 
ciety, and spent five Aveeks. His labors were very 
satisfactory to the church, though not pleasing to 
some others. 

In 1812, Rev. Mr. Sewall preached several times, 
and observed with the church a season of prayer 
and fasting, and baptized several children. Rev. 
John Sawyer supplied them a Sabbath or two. In 
Sept. of this year, Mr. Paul Jewelt was sent to them 
by the Maine Missionary Society, and preached 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 195 

eight Sabbaths. With thanks for aid, tlie church 
sent to the Missionary Society $32. 

1813. This year the church's hopes of obtaining 
a pastor were again raised, and raised to be again 
disappointed. Mr. Ebenezer P. Sperry, from the 
Andover Seminary, visited the place, and in Febru- 
ary, was employed to preach as a candidate for set- 
tlement. The church gave him a call to settle. 
The town concurred, and voted to give him $250 the 
first year, and to increase the sum $50 a year till it 
should amount to $500. Mr. Sperry gave an affir- 
mative answer. But wishing to consult his friends 
further before fixing the time for ordination, chang- 
ed his mind ; wrote to the committee, revoking his 
acceptance, and declining their invitation wholly. 
The church were not only disappointed, but well 
nigh discouraged. They had struggled hard for 
sixteen years to obtain stated preaching ; but could 
not sustain it any length of time for want of means. 
They had made sev^eral attempts to settle a minis- 
ter for half the time, but could not obtain the co-op- 
eration of some out of the church, on whose aid they 
depended to secure such an object. But now hav- 
ing obtained the concurrent vote of the town to give 
Mr. Sperry a call to settle for the whole time, and 
to aid in his support; and having obtained his ac- 
ceptance, then to fail through his refusal, was a dis- 
appointment they were not expecting. But to their 
credit it should be stated that though destitute of 
preaching hitherto, yet they had maintained public 
worship by holding society mnetings, in which the 



196 THE HISTORY OF 

reading of sermons was substituted for preaching. 
They also maintained a monthly church conference 
and other prayer meetmgs. Nor were they yet dis- 
couraged. In October of that year (1813) their 
present pastor, Rev. J. Peet, visited the place, sent 
by the Maine Missionary Society for two weeks. At 
the close of worship on the second Sabbath, (it be- 
ing understood he was to leave next day) a volun- 
tary contribution was taken of $10 for the Mission- 
ary Society. But his detention a day or two 
by a storm, gave rise to an effort to detain him 
longer. A number of the church, and some others 
were collected together, who, after consultation, 
raised a subscription of $120, (which was after- 
wards increased to $150) for the purpose of obtain- 
ing his labors half the time, till it should be exhaust- 
ed, with the design that the Missionary Society 
should employ him the other half in the vicinity. 
The society accorded with the measure, and Mr. 
Peet proceeded to labor in the town and vicinity 
alternately. During the winter, some special inte- 
rest was awakened, and some ten persons obtained 
hope in Christ. And it is worthy of notice, that 
most of these conversions occurred in those families, 
that in addition to their subscription, gratuitously 
boarded the missionary, 

In April, 1814, The Church vv^as called to part 
with their beloved Brother. I)ea. Simon Pierce, a 
valuable member, who had been a pillar in the 
church from its organization ; a consistant christian, 
and worthy citizen. He had recently removed to 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 197 

Chesterville, but did not remove his relation from 
this church, till called to join the Church trium- 
phant. In May, five were added to the church, of 
the fruits of the revival of the preceding winter, 
being the only additions, with two exceptions, since 
1810. About this time, was removed by death, 
Lucy Wood, 3rd. wife of the late Oliver Wood 
Esq, a sister beloved, and mother in Israel, aged 69. 
On the 23d of this month, the church passed a 
unanimous vote to give Mr. Peet a call to become 
their Pastor, and to labor with them such portion 
of the time each year, as they should be able to 
sustain him. And the town, at a subsequent meet- 
ing, concurred and voted to give him two hundred 
dollars annually, and be entitled to his services two 
fifths of the time, provided that the Missionary So- 
ciety would employ him the remainder in the vicin- 
ity. The Society approved of the plan, employed 
him accordingly, and allowed him to spend another 
fifth, making half the time in Norridgewock. Mr. 
Peet accepted the invitation, and his ordination took 
place on the 4th of August following. The ordina- 
tion services were performed by the following min- 
isters, and in the manner following. Rev. Mr. 
Lovejoy offered the introductory prayer; Rev. Mr. 
Jenks preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Sewall offered 
the consecrating prayer; Rev. Mr. Gillet gave the 
charge to the pastor; Rev. Mr. Holt gave the right 
hand of fellowship ; Rev. Mr. Ward gave the charge 
to the church and people, and the closing prayer 
was offered by Rev. Mr. Tappan. 



198 THE HISTORY OF 

The same month, Bro. Ezekiel Hale was imani- 
mously chosen Deacon, to be associated with Dea. 
Solomon Bixby, who had been previously chosen 
to that office. 

In June, 1815, the record notices the death of an 
aged and respected brother in the church, Dea, 
Zachariah Longley, one of the early members. 

A season of prayer and fasting was observed, in 
view of the low state of religious feeling. The 
church agreed to observe the monthly concert of 
prayer for Foreign Missions, and also, to take a 
collection at each meeting, in aid of the object for 
which prayer was offered ; believing it proper that 
alms and prayers should go together. These Col- 
lections averaged fifteen dollars a year, for the 
twenty-four yearsof their continuance, the meetings 
being in general, but thinly attended, and the 
contributors few in number. 

During this year and the three following, the 
church dismissed two members, excommunicated 
one, and admitted three. 

In Dec. 1818, spent a day in prayer and fasting, 
in view of the prevailing sickness among us. 

1819. In Febuary, the church observed a sea- 
son of prayer and fasting, in view of the Spiritual 
dearth that had so long prevailed, and the need of 
a revival of religion. This proved to be a year of 
favor, and distinguished from some past years, by 
the presence of the Holy Spirit; as effects of which 
a number obtained hope in Christ, thirteen of whom 
were received into this church. As these were 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 199 

mostly heads of families, the children that were 
dedicated to God by them and received baptism, 
were twenty six. 

Here we find recorded, the death of their pious, 
devoted sister, Olive Pierce. 

1820. The peace of the church was interrupted 
with some unpleasant cases of discipline, which 
resulted in the excommunication of one member 
this year, and two the next. 

1822. January 9, and Febuary 23, were observ- 
ed as seasons of prayer and fasting, in view of the 
low state of rehgion and need of a revival. To- 
ward the close of 1824, appearances became more 
favorable. Another season of prayer and fasting 
was observed. Two were added to the church. 
Some members were quickened, and praying for a 
revival. 

1825. September 7, the record notes the death 
of their much i,loved brother, Moriah Gould, an 
uniformly consistent and exemplary christian, one 
of the original members, and a pillar of the church 
for twenty eight years, always at his post in the 
church conference and prayer meeting. In July^ 
several of the wealthiest of those who had been as- 
sociated with the church in supporting the gospel 
hitherto, withdrew their aid, and uniting with others, 
originated a Unitarian meeting, and employed Rev. 
Mr. Fessenden, a minister of that order, to preach 
during the season. Though this movement increas- 
the burden of the church, it did not discourage 
.them. In addition to making up the deficiency 



200 THE HISTORY OF 

hereby occasioned, they raised by subscription, in 
the following spring of 1826, a further sum, sufficient 
to secure the labors of their pastor three fourths of 
the time in future, instead of half, as heretofore. 
This circumstance, together with a revival of relig- 
ion, which commenced at this time, formed a new 
era in the history of this church. Increasing inter^. 
est and solemnity were apparent in the meetings 
during the winter. In the siprng a season of prayer 
and fasting was observed. Soon after, several inter- 
esting cases of conversion occurred. The religious 
interest increased, cases of hopeful conversion 
occurred weekly through the summer, and there 
were added to the church during that year, of the 
fruits of that work of grace, thirty four members, 
to sixteen of whom baptism was administered, and 
to thirty three of their children. Other denomina- 
tions shared in the fruits of the revival, particularly 
the Methodists. Among those admitted to their 
church, were three brothers, one of whom contin- 
ues not, by reason of death. The other two are 
educated and highly esteemed ministers of that 
order, and occupying some of the most important 
locations in the State. 

In September 27, was removed by death, William 
Sylvester Esq., a brother much esteemed and much 
lamented. He had been an efficient member twenty - 
nine years ; was a man of more than ordinary 
decison of character, and a valuable citizen. In . 
November, united with the Methodists in holding a 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 201 

season of fasting and prayer, with a view to pro- 
mote harmony of feeUng and action, and the continu- 
ance of the revival. The following year exhibited 
less religious interest, and seven only were admitted 
to the church, and four were dismissed. Here the 
record shows the death of Jane Leathhead, aged 81 ; 
an eminently devout and matured saint, who 
always attended public worship as long as she was 
able to get to the place, though she could not hear a 
word. But '^she wished to be present where God 
was worshiped." And meditating upon the text, 
and hymns, which would be shown her, with her 
heart uplifted to God, she generally found herself 
much edified and refreshed in spirit, though she 
could not hear the preacher. She resided in Anson. 

1828, was commenced with a season of prayer 
and fasting, with a view to the increase of spiritu- 
ahty, and religious interest among them. 

Desiring to aid in the suppression of intemperance, 
the church passed the following resolution. 

Resolved: That we abstain from the use of 
ardent spirits ourselves, and use all justifiable means 
to prevent its use by all others. 

1830. The church were again afilicted by the 
death of their esteemed brother. Jonathan Bosworth. 

1831. During the three preceding years, twelve 
were admitted and ten dismissed. The close of the 
year was marked with some indications of a revi- 
val. Several conversions occurred, and the church 
decided that it was expedient to hold a series of 

meetings, to commence the 7th of next month, 

18 



2()2 THE HISTORY OF 

(Janiiaiy,) and agreed to observe the first Monday 
in that month as a season of prayer and fasting, in 
view of the contemplated meeting. The fast was 
observed, and the meeting held and continued six 
days ; and resulted in the hopeful conversion of a 
number. Next month another fast was observed, 
with reference to the serious, and the continuance 
of the revival. Of the fruits of this work, twenty 
were added to the church during the year. 

The 12th of July was observed as a day of fasting 
and prayer, in accordance with a recommendation 
of the general conference, '*' in view of the fearful 
ravages the cholera is making, and the alarming 
fact that it has appeared on our shores, and com- 
menced its ravages in our country." 

In the same month, the church resolved itself into 
a missionary society, auxiliary to Maine Missionary 
Society, that it might more systematically aid the 
missionary cause by its annual collections. 

1833. The first day of the year was observed by 
the church, in connection with the Baptist Brethren, 
as a season of prayer for spiritual blessings. With- 
in this year 16 children were baptized, to all of 
•whom belonged the surname of Bixby. In October 
another day was devoted to public prayer for spir- 
itual blessings. 

February, 1835. After a sermon, preached before 
the Association, which met in the place, the following 
brethren, viz., Ezekiel Hale, John Wood, John 
Loring and William W. Dinsmore, having been 
previously chosen, were now ordained to the office 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 203 

of deacon, by prayer and laying on of hands. Se- 
lect scriptures were read by the pastor, the conse- 
crating prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Hatha- 
way, an address by the Rev. Mr.Sikes,and concluding 
prayer by Rev. Mr. May. 

During this year, fourteen were added, and one 
restored who had been excommunicated, and four 
dismissed. 

In September, is recorded the death of their much 
esteemed brother, Dea. Solomon Bixby, one of the 
original members, who had been a pillar in the 
church thirty eight years. Though he lived remote 
from the sanctuary, yet he was rarely absent from 
public worship, or the church conference, and for 
many years assisted in conducting public worship 
when destitute of a preacher. He reared up a large 
and respectable family, most of whom settled in the 
same neighborhood; and, in accordance with his 
example and training, are among the liberal sup- 
porters of that gospel which he prized. Of his 
children, five^ and of his grand-children /o?<r, are 
members of the same church which he left, and one 
of the latter is preparing for the ministry. 

In 1836, Bro. Edmund Parker died suddenly with 
apoplexy. He was the last of the original male 
members. 

'At a meeting of the church in July 1847, the 
following resolution was introduced by Dea. Dins- 
more, and unanimously adopted. 

Resolved: That relying on the divine blessing 
upon our efibrts, we will sustain our minister the 
whole tinle among ourselves, without calling upon 



204 



THE HISTORY OF 



the missionary society to employ him any portion 
of it elsewhere. The sum they here resolved to 
raise was fom' hundred dollars annually. The 
Sabbath following, they met for worship the first 
time in the new vestry, which had been fitted up 
for their use in the basement of the old meeting 
house, and which furnished a commodious place 
for worship at their disposal, now needed till a more 
eligible place should be finished, which was pre- 
paring. 

In 1838,some increased religious interest apparent. 
A season of prayer and fasting observed. Also a 
series of union meetings held by the diflerent 
denominations, the result of which was beneficial. 
Four were added to the church. Here is recorded 
the death of Lucy, the wife of Sumner Bixby, a 
beloved sister and worthy member. 

July, 1838. Their new place of worship being 
now completed, by remodeling the old meeting 
house, was this day dedicated to God the Fa- 
ther, Son and Holy Ghost. Invocation and 
reading the scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Sikes ; Sermon 
by the Pastor, from Eccl. 5 : 1. Dedicatory prayer 
by Rev. Mr. Tucker. Concluding prayer by Rev. 
Mr. Hathaway. A difficulty which had existed 
between three members was referred to an ecclesi- 
astical council, the result of which, being accepted 
by the parties, the matter was adjusted. 

1843, During this year nine were added by pro- 
fession, and five by letter, and during the six years 
immediately preceding, ten only were added, and 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 205 

eight dismissed. In 1844, three beloved sisters were 
removed by death, viz., the wife and the mother of 
Brother D. Farnsworth. The latter was the second 
wife of the late Edmmid Parker, and was the last 
of the original members but one. Also Abbe, the 
wife of Seth Cutler, and daughter of brother 
Cornelius Norton. 

In 1845, three were added and three dismissed. 
And in 1846, three were added and three dismissed, 
and two removed by death; viz., the wife of the late 
Moriah Gould, also the wife of Eusebius Heald. 

In 1847, six were added by letter, three dismissed 
and four removed by death; viz., Sybil Moore, 
daughter of the late Jonathan Bosworth, Reuben 
Dinsmore, Eliza Crosby, and Mary, wife of the late 
William Sylvester. She was a mother in Israel, 
and much beloved. 

In 1848, five were added. During this year the 
church were deeply afflicted by the death of their 
beloved brother, Dea. Wm. W. Dinsmore, which 
took place July 26. While laboring in his field, 
he fell lifeless to the ground. By his death, the 
church sustained an irreparable loss. One of their 
main pillars was taken away; not only a leading 
member, but an efficient member, always at his 
post; seeing Avhat needed to be done, and doing it 
as far as able ; a peace maker, and a man of prayer. 

In September, Bro. Sumner Bixby was elected to 
the office of deacon, to be associated with Dea. E. 
Hale; taking the place of the lamented brother 

named above. 

18* 



206 THE HISTORY OF 

1849. Two members have been added since tlie 
commencement of the present year. 

This sketch will show that a Congregational 
church has existed in Norridgewock more than 
fifty-one years; that up to 1813, the time their pres- 
ent pastor first visited them, the number that had 
been connected with the church, was seventy-six, 
and that forty- three only, were then found remain- 
ing. The records during that period not being very 
full, show but five baptisms of adults, and fifty-three 
of children. Since that time, one hundred and 
sixty-two have been added, one hundred and twenty- 
five by profession, and thirty-seven by letter; and 
baptism has been administered to forty-two adults, 
and to one hundred and seventy-six children ; in all, 
to two hundred and seventy-five. 

The whole number who have connected them- 
selves with the church, is two hundred and thirty- 
eight. Of this number, fifty have been removed by 
death ; averaging about one a year. Eighty have 
been dismissed, to other Congregational churches, 
more than fifty of whom, are supposed to be still 
living. And efforts to maintain discipline have 
resulted in the excommunication of ten members. 
The present number is about one hundred. 

The church and society enjoyed the labors of 
their pastor the first twelve years after his settle- 
ment, but half the time, and the next eleven years, 
three fourths ; and since 1837 they have sustained 
him the whole time. The other portion of the time 



NOKRIDGEWOCK. 207 

lie has been employed by missionary societies, and 
his labors have been distributed among thirty towns 
in the vicinity, though in some instances, he has 
been employed by a church one fourth of the year, 
mainly or wholly by their own efforts. 

The records show that the church, in compliance 
with letters missive from sister churches, have voted 
to send pastor and delegates to sit in forty ecclesi- 
astical councils; viz., five for organizing churches, 
twenty-three for ordaining or installing ministers, 
eight for dismissing ministers, and four for settling 
difficulties. 

The church and society, it appears, have attempt- 
ed something from year to year, in aid of the vari- 
ous objects of Christian benevolence, even before 
they felt themselves able to support the gospel 
Avholly among themselves. And in order to meet 
the calls of these various objects, and render aid to 
each, they found it necessary to have some system 
in their operations ; hence they formed associations, 
male and female, auxiliary to the American Tract 
Society, to the Home Missionary Society, and to 
the Foreign Missionary Society. Then in making 
a collection for some one of these benevolent socie- 
ties, they would call in the subscriptions of its 
auxiliary associations, and in some instances take 
a public contribution in addition. Then after an 
interval of two months or more, they have made a 
collection for some other benevolent object, by 
paying in the assessments or subscriptions as auxil- 
iaries to that society, and so on, making collections 



208 THE HISTORY OF 

at suitable intervals through the year. In this way, 
in addition to what they had done in supporting the 
gospel at home, they have contributed to the cause 
of Foreign Missions, more than one thousand dollars, 
including one hundred and more, raised by juvenile 
societies, for the support and education of a heathen 
youth in Ceylon. Of the sum named above, $340 
were contributed at the meetings of the monthly 
concert of prayer for missions. It also appears 
from the minutes, that more than $650, have been 
contributed in aid of home missions, probably not 
less than $ 700. In addition to this, collections have 
been taken annually for years, in aid of the tract 
cause. Subscriptions and contributions have also 
been taken for the American Education Society, of 
$ 30 or $ 40 a year, in some instances; also for the 
Bible Society, and some other benevolent objects, 
the precise amount of which cannot be specified, as 
the minutes have not all been preserved, but is sup- 
posed to be several hundred, and would increase 
the amount above named, to between three and four 
thousand dollars. 

The present pastor of this church, Rev. Josiah 
Peet, was born in Bethlehem, Connecticut, June 21, 
1780. Graduated at Middlebury College, 1808. 
Graduated at Theological Seminary, Andover, 1811. 
Was employed as Principal of the Seminary at 
Castleton, Vermont, 1812. Came to Norridgewock, 
October 1813. Was ordained August, 1814. -* 

* The Salary of Mr. Peet, was originally paid in part by the town. 
It is now paid by the church and society. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



209 



A Catalogue of those who have been connected with the 
Congregational church in Norridgewock, from its organi- 
zation to the present time, May, 1849, with the year of 
admission. 



Moriah Gould, 
John Cook, 
Jonathan Robbins, 
Miss Eliza Robbins, 
David Pierce, 
Amos Adams, 
Amos Adams, Jr., 
James Thompson, 
Mrs. Isabella Thompson, 
Solomon Bixby, 
Edmund Parker, 
Simon Pierce, 
Abigail Gilman, 
Josiah Spaulding, 
Robert Whitcomb, 
Mrs. Hannah Farnham, 



Admitted in 1797. 

Mrs. Lucy Wood, 
Mrs. Sarah Warren, 
Mrs. Olive Parlin, 
Mrs. Phebe Spaulding, 
Mrs. Lucy Hale, 
Mrs. Lucy Gould, 
Mrs Keziah Lindsay, 
Mrs. Eunice Moore, 
Patty Farnsworth, 
Mrs. Lois Whitcomb, 
Mrs. Hannah Davenport, 
Mrs. Mary Witherell, 
Susanna Wood, 
Eleazar Spaulding, 
William Sylvester, 
Zachariah Longley. 
John Davenport, 



Mrs. Susanna Kidder, 

Mrs.M. (Farnsworth) Parker,Perley Rogers, 

Mrs. Esther Richards, Nathan Wood, 

Mrs. Mary Spaulding, Mrs. Lucy Bixby, 

Mrs. Olive Pierce, Mrs. Martha Gilman, * 

Mrs. Mary Parker, Peter Gilman, 

*Mrs. Gilman is still living. She reached upon the 12th day of 
July, 1849, her one hundredth birth day anniversary, Avhich was appro- 
pi'iatelj'- celebrated by her relatives. Upon turning back to page 116, 
the reader will perceive we record her age 98. This was taken from 
the records of two statements at the time she received her pension. 
If she is now one hundred years of age, the eiTor occurred at that 
time probably from forgetfulness. 



210 



THE HISTORY OF 



Peter Gilman, Jr., 
Joseph Russell, 
Mrs. Betsey Russell, 
Edward Hartwell, 
Mrs. Hepzibah Pierce, 

1801. 
Dugal McPherson, 
Benjamin Farnham, 
Mrs. Abigail Crosby, 
Mrs. Mary Hilton, 
Mrs. Sally Steward, 
Thomas Wood, 
Mrs. Mary Weston, 
Joseph Hilton, 
Nathan Peabody, 
Mrs. Hannah Peabody, 
Mrs. Lucy Parlin, 
Mrs. Mary Sylvester. 

1803. 
Robert Leathhead, 
Mrs. Jane Leathhead, 
Mrs. Jane Hilton, 
Mrs. Anna Young, 

Mrs. Holding, 

Mrs. Deborah Rogers. 

1808. 
Thomas Hale, 
Ephraim Lindsay, 
Mrs. Susan Witherell, 
Mrs. Betsey(Parlin)Moreton 
Mrs. Lydia Longley, 
Asa Longley, 



Josiah Warren, 
Mrs. Turner. 

1811. 
Ezeklel Hale. 

1814. 
Mrs. Sarah Pierce, 
John Loring, 
Mrs. Loisa Loring, 
Samuel B. Witherell, 
David Gilman, 
Mrs. P.(Witherell) Sewall, 
Betsey Davidson. 

1815. 
Didama Hale, 
Sarah Rogers, 
Mrs. Mary Crombie. 

1816. 
Mrs. Sarah A. Peet. 

1818. 
Alvin Blackwell, 
Mrs. Sally Blackwell, 
Mrs. Susan Page. 

1819. 
Jonathan Bosworth, 
Mrs. Betsey Bosworth, 
Benjamin Longley, 
Mrs. Lucy Crosby, 
Mrs. Jane (Crosby)Longley, 
John Boutelle, 
Mrs. Jane Boutelle, 
Mrs. N. (Sylvester) Allen, 
Mrs. Sally Fletcher, 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



211 



Simon Page, 
Dominicus Mitchell. 
Mrs. Hannah Loring, 
Mrs. L. (Sylvester) Kimball, 
David Shepley. 

1824. 
Samuel Sylvester, 
Mrs. Charlotte Sylvester, 
Mrs. C. (Lyman) Adams. 

1826. 
Mrs. Susan Rogers, 
Daniel Rogers, 
Drummond Farnsworth, 
John Haynes, 
Mrs. S. (Howe) Gilman, 
Mrs. E. (Harding) Gilman, 
James M. Haynes, 
Mrs. R. (Prescolt) Warren, 
James Bates, 
Niran Bates 
Alden Fuller, 

Mrs. Melinda(Gould)Fuller, 
Mrs. Hannah Bickford, 
Mrs. Eleanor Bragg, 
Mrs. M. (Kidder)Harlow, 
Joshua Sylvester, 
Mrs. C. (Sylvester)Sawtelle, 
Mrs. S. (Sylvester) Brown, 
Mrs. P. (Sylvester) White, 
Mrs. Rebecca Wright, 
Ephraim Farrar, 
Moses Wood, 
Mrs. Betsey Wood, 



Moses Wood, Jr., 

Mrs. Lucy Pierce, 

Mrs. Sybil Wood, 

Mrs. H. (Loring) Paine, 

Mrs. Mahal a Wood, 

Sumner Bixby, 

Mrs. P. H. (Kidder) Hale, 

Mrs. Deborah Marshall, 

Mrs. Sally (Tozier) Hale, 

Mrs. P. (Witherell) Bartlett. 

1827. 
Mrs. Sarah Warren, 
Nathaniel Warren, 
Sarah Crosby, 
Eliza Crosby, 
Mrs. S. (Haynes) Gage, 
Mrs. Sally Farrar, 
Mrs. Almira (Trask) Brown, 
Mrs. Ruth Jevvett, 
Mrs. S. (Jewett) Haynes, 
Mrs. Achsah Bixby, 
Mrs P.(Harding)Philbrook, 
Mrs. M. (Burgess) Buxton. 

1830. 
John Wood, 
Mrs. Ann Wood, 
Mrs Betsey Pratt, 
Mrs Charlotte Bates, 
William W. Dinsmore, 
Mrs. Lucy Dinsmore, 
Mrs. Charity Baker, 
Abigail Jones, 
Huldah Gilmore, 



212 



THE HISTORY OF 



Sarah Gilinore, 
Mrs! L. (Bixby) Gil man, 
Amasa Bixby, 
Mrs. F. (Weston) Bixby, 
Rufus Bixby, 

Mrs. Betsey(Weston)Bixby, 
Mrs.J.(Dinsmore)Danforth, 
Betsey Bixby, 
Mrs. O. (Haynes) Merrill, 
Mrs. S. (Wood) Sylvester, 
Artemas Wood, 
Diana Howard, 
Mrs. H. (Sawtelle) Selden, 
Mrs. Mehitable Howard, 
Mrs. S.(Longley)Dinsmore, 
Jotharn S. Bixby, 
Silas T. Longley, 
Charles Loring, 
Edward J. Feet. 
1834. 
Reuben Dinsmore. 

1835. 
Mrs. Lucy (Hale) Bixby, 
Mrs. Mary Emerson, 
Mrs. Susan Edes, 
Jerusha Ann Bickford, 
Meroe (Sylvester) Farns- 

worth, 
Sherman Hale, 
Horatio N. Page, 
Mrs. C. (Fletcher) Dole, 
Harriet Stackpole, 



Mrs. S. (Selden) McCobb, 
Mrs. Martha G. Witherell, 
Mrs. S. (Crosby) Hale, 
Mrs. S. .(Bosworth) Moore, 
Mrs. S. H, (Peet) Sawtelle . 

1836. 
Eusebius Hale. 

1837. 
Loring Tozier, 
Sophrona Russell, 
Sandford K. Ballard, 
Catharine F. Lyman, 
Mrs. M. (Selden) Burgess, 
Mary Fletcher, 
William Henry Peet. 

1839. 
Mrs. Hannah Page. 

1843. 
William H. Boardman, 
Mrs Roxana V. Boardman, 
Mrs. Esther C. Hale, 
Mrs. Sarah (Carlisle)Bixby, 
Seth Parlin, 
Mrs. Nancy T. Parlin, 
Cephas Vaughan, 
Solomon Bixby, 
Ebenezer Vaughan, 
Mrs. Sarah Vaughan, 
Levi Cutler, 
Mrs. Margaret Cutler, 
Mrs. A. (Norton) Cutler, 
Mrs, Rachel Emerson. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



213 



Albert M. Longley, Mrs. Mary (Wood) Bixby, 

Amos Bixby, Mrs. N. (Boardman) Dins- 

1845. more, 

Amasa Bixby, Jr., Mrs. Mehitable Kidder, 

John W. Fletcher, Augasta H. Carlisle, 

Cornelius Norton, Caroline Longley, 

Mrs. S. (Burgess) Norton. Mary Herrick Peet, 

1847. Amos Longley, 

Rev. John Dodd, 1849. 

Mrs. Maria Dodd, Louisa Payson Bixby, 

Charles Norton, Mrs. M. L. (Tower) Jones. 

Mrs. Sylvester Norton, 

BAPTIST CHURCHES. 
At an early period in the settlement ofthis town.a 
Baptist church was estabUshed in Bloomfield, in 
which William Weston and several others in this 
town united, and a meeting house was built for 
their accommodation in Bloomfield, near the border 
of this town. No Baptist church was organized in 
this town till 1819. In that year, several members 
who resided in the upper part of the town, met, and 
after consultation, decided on the expediency of 
being organized into a distinct church, and called a 
council for that purpose. 

On the 28th September, 1819, the council con- 
vened at the place appointed, and Elder Francis 
Powers was chosen moderator, and David Trask 
clerk. 

After examining the following persons, eight of 

whom resided in Norridgewock and two in Madison, 

they were organized into a Baptist church in Nor- 

ridg^ewock: to wit : 

19 



214 THE HI8T0KY OF 

David Trask, Mary Trask, 

Joseph Pratt, Hannah Washburn^ 

Daniel Mantor, Lydia Mantor, 

Mary Washburn, Lydia Trask. 

of Norridgewock, and John Piper and Sarah Piper, 
of Madison. They were suppUed with preaching 
occasionally by Elder Powers, and other preachers 
for ten years or more, in which time eight or ten 
members were added, part of whom belonged to 
Madison and Starks, one or two died, several remov- 
ed, and the remaining members who resided in this 
town, then transferred their connection to the other 
Baptist church, which had been formed in this town. 
The members belonging to Madison and Starks, 
united with the Baptist churches in those towns and 
this first church thus became extinct. 

In July, 1828, a council was called for organizing 
a Baptist church in the south-westerly part of the 
town. The council convened, consisted of Elder 
Jonathan Steward, Deacons Thomas Steward, Dar- 
cees Emery, and Simeon Morse, and Bro. Lemuel 
Smith of the Baptist church in Bloomfield; Joseph 
Murch, Samuel Hilton, Joseph Yiles and Isaiah 
Wood, of Anson ; Elder Powers, and Deacon Pratt, 
of Norridgewock ; Elder Kilgore of Lisbon, and 

Elder of Lewiston. Elder Francis Powers 

was chosen moderator, and Isaiah Wood, clerk. 

The following persons appeared before the coun- 
cil, and after examination, were constituted a Bap- 
tist church in Norridgewock: viz., Jeremiah Tuck, 



NORREDGEWOCK. 216 

Nancy Tuck, Ezekiel Gilman, Samuel Kilgore, Sally 
Kilgore, John Cromwell, Mary Cromwell. Jesse Tay- 
lor, Mary Taylor, Nehemiah Preble, Susannah Preb- 
le, Betsey Norton, Betsey McKetchnie, Sally Black, 
and Betsey Merrill. Fifteen. 

During the years 1828 and 1829, five other mem- 
bers were added to the church. In 1830, they were 
supphed with preaching by elder Hooper. The 
members who resided in town, belonging to the 
Baptist Church which was organized in 1819, hav- 
ing united with this church. Joseph Pratt was 
chosen deacon, and two members added to the 
church. 

In 1831, they enjoyed the labors of Elder Datus 
T. Allen, and received an addition of six members. 

In 1832, they were supplied with preaching by 
Elders Boardman, Steward and Glover. Eleven 
were received into the church, and two dismissed. 
In 1833, nine were added. In 1836, four were ex- 
cluded. In 1837, Elder Cross labored with them 
some portion of the time. In 1838, Elder Gold- 
thwait was employed, and preached with them part 
of the time till 1842. During the two first years, 
six were added, and during the last two years, 
twelve were received and one dismissed. 

In 1842, the members of this church who resided 
in the vicinity of Oak Hill, in the south-west corner 
of the town, having erected a meeting house for 
their accommodation, deemed it expedient to have 
a separate organization, and at their request a coun- 
cil was called for the purpose, consisting of Rev. 



216 



THE HISTORY OF 



Sylvanus Boardman and Rev. Mr. N. M. Williams 
of New Sharon, Rev. Dattis F. Allen of Industry, 
Rev. D. P. Bailey of Cornville, Dea. Gilmore of 
Starks, and Bros. Russell, Philbrook and J. Emery 
of Bloomfield. 

Rev. S. Boardman was chosen moderator, and 
Jesse Taylor, clerk. A church was then duly or- 
ganized, January 14, 1842, consisting of fourteen 
members who were dismissed and taken from the 
Baptist Church of Norridgewock, and called the 
Baptist church of Oak Hill, in Norridgewock. 
John Cromwell and Orrin Tinkham were chosen 
deacons. This church has been supplied with 
preaching from one fourth to one half of the time 
since it was organized. Rev. W. E. Morse and Rev. 
Isaac Merrill, to 1848. During this period of seven 
years, twenty have been added to the church, four 
have died, and three have been dismissed. The 
present number is twenty-nine, several of whom 
have been added under the revival during the 
winter of 1849. 

In 1842, the Baptist church in Norridgewock was 
supplied with preaching by Elder Arthur Drink- 
water one half the time, and he continued to labor 
with them till 1845. 

In 1845, Elder Stevens supplied them one fourth 
part of the time for a year, and nine members were 
added. 

In 1846, Elder Isaac Merrill moved into the place 
and was employed by the church to preach one half 
the time, till 1849, preaching most of the other half 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 217 

of the time at Oak Hill. During this time, ten were 
received and one excluded. Since the year 1849 
commenced, they have been supplied by Elder 
Coburn, Elder Morse, Elder Kelley and Elder 
Hinkley, and six members have been added to the 
church during the first three months of the year. 

The whole number connected with the church 
since it was first organized is ninety-two ; thirty- 
nine have been admitted by baptism, and thirty- 
eight by letter. Seventeen have been dismissed to 
sister churches, and six have deen excluded ; several 
have been removed by death, leaving the present 
number about forty-five. 

The church, in connection with the Methodists 
and Freevsrill Baptists, built them a convenient 
meeting house in 1843, which was dedicated on the 
first day of January, 1844. Sermon by Elder 
Drinkwater. More than half of the house is owned 
by this church, one quarter part is owned by the 
Methodists, and the Freewill Baptists own one 
eighth; and is occupied by the three denominations 
according to their interest. The Freewill Baptists, 
however, have been permitted to occupy the house 
every fourth sabbath. 

Members of the Baptist church in Norridgewock, 
from its first organization. 

Males. Levi Powers, 

Jeremiah Tuck, Albert P. Warren, 

Ezekiel Gilman, Whitmore Gilman, 

Samuel Kilgore, Albert Ross, 

John Cromwell, Alonzo Taylor, 

19* 



218 



THE HISTORY OF 



Jesse Taylor, 
John McKetchnie, 
Jonathan Mitchel, 
Rufus J. Woodard, 
Joseph Pratt, 
Eliphalet Lane, 
Edward Jones, 
Moses Watson, 
Daniel Mantor, 
William Johnson, 
Joseph Lawrence, 
Josiah Butler, 
Joseph Oilman, 
Augustine Cromwell, 
Nathaniel Taylor, 
Jeremiah Hartford, 
Thomas Merrill, 
Hiram Willey, 
Dimon Taylor, 
Aaron C. Bigelow, 
Thomas Preble, 
John Sylvester, 
George B. Weston, 
John Cleaves, 
Reuben Robbins, 
Owen Tinkham, 
John C. Jewett, 
Israel Taylor, 
Orvil Tinkham, 
Granvill Tinkham, 
Sharington Perkins, 
Osman Taylor. 



Females. 
Mary Adams, 
Electa Butler, 
Mary Warren, 
Elizabeth Kilgore, 
Phebe Taylor, 
Nancy Tuck, 
Sally Kilgore, 
Mary Cromwell, 
Mary Taylor, 
Susanna Preble, 
Betsey McKetchnie, 
Sally Black, 
Betsey Merrill, 
Mary Bowden, 
Hannah Norton, 
Lydia Lane, 
Mrs. Mary Trask, 
Mary Trask, 
Rachel Watson, 
Lydia Mantor, 
Sally Johnson, 
Sarah Johnson, 
Hannah Washburn, 
Mary E. Lawrence, 
Cynthia H. Mason, 
Mary Gray, 
Lucy Gilman, 
Judith^Longley, 
Love Cottle, 
Elizabeth Merrill, 
Betsey Taylor. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 



219 



Rosilla Dudley, 
Olive Taylor, 
Mary Taylor, 
Jane Robbins, 
Julia Works, 
Hannah Taylor, 
Phebe Weston, 
Martha Wood, 
Betsey Sylvester, 
Emily Powers, 
Abigail Weston, 
Mary Goldthwait, 
Lucinda Bigelow, 
Louisa P. Waugh, 
Achsah Tinkham, 
Olive Taylor, 
Mary Cleaves, 
Nancy Jewett, 
Abigail Judkins, 
Lydia Mclntire, 
Abigail H. Weston, 
Sarah Wheeler, 
Clarisa Loring, 
Paulina Freeman, 



Rulh Taylor, 
Sarah Taylor, 
Charlotte Robbins, 
Temperance Cross, 
Cynthia Bates, 
Julia Ann Taylor, 
Martha Taylor, 
Martha Jane Taylor, 
Nancy Ross, 
Sarah Ross. 
Sarah E. Taylor. 
Emeline Taylor, 
Mrs. Hartford, 
Julia Ann Tinkham, 
Mary Ann Tinkham, 
Mrs. Gray, 
Clarinda Tinkham, 
Mary Perkins, 
Mrs. Tinkham. 
Martha Dunlap, 
Mrs. Bell, 
Mrs. Waltoft, 
Harriet Dudley, 
Huldah Tinkham. 



FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH. 
A few members in this town united with a larger 
number in Bloomfield and Fairfield, about the year 
1820, and were organized into a church, by the 
name of the Bloomfield and Fairfield church of 
Free-Will Baptists, and attended their meetings 
generally in those towns occasionally having preach- 



220 THE HISTORY OF 

ing in this town till 1829. During that year there 
was a revival under the preaching of Elder C. Stil- 
son, and ten members, chiefly of this town, were 
added to the church by baptism. Whereupon, in 
the close of the year 1829, and commencement of 
1830, at the request of the members residing in this 
town, they were dismissed and formed a church in 
this town, which was duly organized by the name of 
the Free-Will Baptist Church in Norridgewock, con- 
sisting of twelve members, and three others were 
added by baptism that year. In 1832, eight were add- 
ed by baptism, and three by letter. In 1834, one was 
added, and in 1835, one. During the first six years 
after the church was organized in this town, they 
had no stated preaching, but had preaching occa- 
sionally by Elders Stilson, Colcord, Leach and oth- 
ers, as they traveled from place to place. Having 
no house of worship, they usually held their meet- 
ings in school houses. 

In 1836, Elder Samuel Hutchins settled in this 
town, united with this church, and preached in the 
town about one half of the time for seven years, 
preaching the other half of the time in Smithfield, 
and other places. During the first year of his min- 
istry, three were added to the church ; in 1837, five ; 
in 1838, three ; in 1839, three ; in 1840, six ; in 
1841, eight; 1842, one. 

In 1843, there was a revival under the preaching 
of Elder Abel Turner, and six were added by bap- 
tism ; in 1845 three were added by letter, making 
eighty-eight members who have been con nee ted with 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 221 

this church during the last twenty years. In which 
time many have died ; some have taken letters of 
commendation to other churches ; others have gone 
away without taking letter, and have been droped 
from the church records, and some have been exclud- 
ed, so that the whole number in March 1849, is but 
thirty-two. 

Elder Hutchins removed to Belgrade in 1843, 
and since that time the church'has had preaching 
but one quarter of the time. In 1843, by Elder 
Turner; then by Elder Harding, part of three years, 
and in 1847 and 1848 by Elder Wheeler and others. 

Rev. Stephen Bowden of this town has been or- 
dained as a preacher of this denomination, and is 
esteemed and respected by his christian friends. 

Members. 

Stephen Bowden, Mary Brooks, 

Josiah Tarbell, Eunice Robinson, 

Josiah W. Tarbell, William Tobey, 

Sophia Tarbell, Beltiah Oliver, 

Isabela Otis, Lyman Perry, 

Catharme Bump, Motherwill Preble, 

Nathaniel M. Stevens, Samuel Hutchins, 

Betsey Stevens, Nehemiah Preble, 

Thomas Greenleaf, Thomas Preble, 

Mary Greenleaf, Mary James, 

Caroline Bowden, Nancy Trafton, 

Ruth Tobey, John Taylor, 

Sewall Bowden, John H. Taylor, 

Levi Preble, Susan Bickford, 

Phimela Bowden, Thomas Taylor, 



222 



THE HISTORY OF 



Susan Smart, 
Olive Bowden, 
Thankful Bowden, 
Rufus Pishon,"; 
Betsey Huff, 
Hannah Davis, 
Lucy Davis, 
Henry Bickford, 
Hannah Bickford, 
Henry Preble, 
Aaron Bickford, 
Warren Preble, 
Thomas Norton, 
Joseph F. Norton, 
Rosilla Preble, 
Charles H. Smart, 



Sarah Savage, 
Betsey Perry, 
Hannah Jones, 
Lucy McMahan, 
Nancy Savage, 
Beniah Savage, 
Levi O. Savage, 
Narcissa Wadleigh, 
Ira Loring, 
Betsey Loring, 
Eben. M. Coffin, 
Harriet Robinson, 
Eliza Tobey, 
Mary Stanley, 
Data H. Emerson, 
Lucy Jane Johnson, 
Eliza Pomrov. 



CHRISTIANS. 

A small society of Christians, differing in some 
matters from the order of the Free-Will Baptists, 
was formed in the north part of this town as early 
as 1820, and have continued to keep up their organ- 
ization, distinct from the Free-will Baptists. The 
number has never exceeded twelve. They cordially 
unite with the Free-will Baptists in their religious 
meetings. Rev, James P. Longley of this town is an 
ordained preacher of this order, and devotes the 
most of his time to his profession as a missionary. 
He is circumspect and examplary in his Ufe and 
conversation, and a man of good mind. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 223 

UNITARIANS. 

In 1825j after Unitarianism had extended into 
Maine, and churches were formed and ministers 
settled in Hallovvell and Angnsta, a number of indi- 
viduals in this town, on becoming acquainted with 
the Unitarian doctrines, were desirous to have the 
system introduced into this place ; they accordingly 
during the summer of that year raised a subscription 
and employed Rev. Mr. Fessenden, a Unitarian min- 
ister to preach with them several months. Tlieir 
meetings were held in the court-house. 

In the autumn their subscription being exhausted, 
their meetings were suspended during the winter, 
to be resumed in the spring. Meantime they made 
arrangements for securing a more permanent supply. 
In the spring of 1826, Rev. Samuel Brimblecomb 
was obtained, with the understanding that he Avas 
to labor with them three years; but not feeling able 
to sustain him the whole time, his supporters allow- 
ed him to preach one third of the year elsewhere ; 
and he was employed that portion of the time in 
Athens. 

Some time in 1827, a Unitarian church was form- 
ed in Norridgewock, consisting of five members, 
four of whom were previously members of Unitari- 
an churches in other places. On raising their sub- 
scription the second year, some of the original sub- 
scribers having left them and united with the Con- 
gregational church; the Universalists who had con- 
tributed to the support of Mr. Brimblecomb and 
attended his meetings, concluded that what they 



224 THE HISTORY OF 

could raise should be appropriated to hire preaching 
of their own order. They accordingly employed 
Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, a Universalist, to preach in 
the Court House in the absence of Mr. Brimblecomb 
that season. This step diminished the subscription 
for the support of Mr. Brimblecomb, who remon- 
strated and thought it unnecessary to employ Mr. 
Cobb, inasmuch as he believed and could preach the 
same doctrine, and hence thought the Universalists 
might co-opiftrate with the Unitarians in supporting 
him. During the year he attended a Universalist 
Convention at Readfield, and preached a sermon 
before that body, in which he avowed fully his be- 
lief in the doctrines of Universalism. But he did 
not acquire at that time the confidence of the Uni- 
versalists : neither did the Unitarians approve of 
his course. He therefore, left this place before the 
period of his engagement expired ; was afterwards 
employed as a principal in a Universalist Seminary 
in Westbrook. 

Not long after Mr. Brimblecomb left, Rev. Mr. 
Beede, who had been preaching to a Unitarian So- 
ciety in Eastport, was employed to preach in this 
place for a season. 

No Unitarian preacher has been employed to 
preach in this place since Mr. Beede left in 1829. 
When Mr. Brimblecomb removed from the place, 
there were but two members of the church, and one 
of them removed some years after, which left but 
one remaining member. 



NORRIDGEWOCK. 225 

UNIVERSALISTS. 

About the year 1815, Charles Pierce, who had 
been Uving in Bingham, and who had formerly lived 
in this town, removed to this place and avowed 
himself a Universalist. This was the first public 
avowal of Universalism in this town. He was soon 
joined by several others, and after a few years, they 
established regular meetings in this town and at 
East Pond Plantation, and Calvin Heald, Esq. of 
this town, was designated as a leader of their meet- 
ings, and he occasionally preached to them for a 
year or tvvo. In 1827, Rev. Sylvanus Cobb was 
employed a part of the time as has been stated, and 
others were employed occasionally for several years. 
Rev. Darius Forbes was employed regularly for one 
half of the time during three or four years. When 
he left. Rev. R. Blacker was employed in 1842 and 
'3, a part of the time. Since 1843, they have had no 
stated preaching till the latter part of 1848; but they 
had preaching occasionally by Rev. Mr. Gardner of 
Waterville; Rev. Mr. Drew of Augusta ; Rev. Mr. 
Gunnison of Hallo well ; Rev. Mr. Bates of Turner, 
and others. 

In the fall of 1848, Rev. John W. Hanson remov- 
ed into this town and commenced preaching at the 
court-house one half of the time; preaching occa- 
sionally at other places in the town and in the 
vicinity. 

The meetings of this denomination are said to be 
well attended. What proportion of those who listen to 
20 



226 THE HISTORY OF NORRTDGEWOCK. 

the preaching are professed Universahsts, we have 
no means of ascertainmg, as no organized church of 
this denomination has ever existed in town. 



To the credit of the town, it may De recorded, 
that the inhabitants as a majority, from the first set- 
tlement of the town to the present time, have ever 
manifested a commendable, degree of respect for the 
institutions of rehgion, the ordinances of the gospel, 
and observance of the Sabbath, &c.; the silent, yet 
truthful operation of which influence, is now visi- 
ble, not only in every department of social life, but 
also in that of a quiet, orderly, enterprising and 
intellegent population. 



APPENDIX. 



CORRESPONDENCE OF SEBASTIAN RASLES* AND REMINIS- 
CENCES OF "INDIAN OLD POINT," NORRIDGEWOCK. 

A COLLECTION' of thirty-four volumes of '' Lettres 
Edifiantes et Curienses, ecrites des Missions Etran- 
geres," have been pubhshed in France. Two of 
these edifying and curious letters" were written by 
Father Rasles, in which he gives a full account of 
his missionary labors among the Indians. The let- 
ters written by the Catholic Missionaries in our own 
country, have been translated from the French by 
Rev. W. J. Kip, and published under the title of 
" Early Jesuit Missions in North America." 

The first letter of Rasles is addressed to his 
nephew, dated at Nanrantsouak, Indian name for 
Norridgewock, Oct. 15, 1722 — in which he says : 

The village in which I live is called Nanrantsouak, and 
is situated on the banks of a river which empties into the sea, at 
the distance of thirty leagues below. I have erected a Church 
there, which is neat and elegantly ornamented. I have indeed, 
thought it my duty to spare nothing either in the decoration of 
the building itself, or in the beauty of those articles which are 
Used in our holy ceremonies. Vestments, chasubles, copes, and 

*The name is spelt Rasles, Rasle, Ralle and Rale by different Avriters. 
We have followed the orthogi-aphy in the original " Letters." 



228 APPENDIX. 

holy vessels, all are highly appropriate, and would be esteemed 
so even in our Churches in Europe. I have also formed a little 
choir of about forty young Indians, who assist at Divine Service 
in cassocks and surplices. They have each their own appropri- 
ate functions, as much to serve in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, 
as to chant the Divine Offices for the consecration of the Holy 
Sacrament, and for the processions which they make with great 
crowds of Indians, who often come from a long distance to en- 
gage in these exercises ; and you would be edified by the beau- 
tiful order they observe and the devotion they show. 

They have built two Chapels at three hundred paces distance 
from the villiage ; the one, which is dedicated to the Holy Vir- 
gin, and where can be seen her image in rehef, is above, on the 
river ; the other, which is dedicated to the Guardian Angel, is 
below, on the same river. As they are both on the road which 
leads either into the woods or into the fields, the Indians can 
never pass without offering up their prayers. There is a holy 
emulation among the females of the village, as to who shall most 
ornament the Chapel of which they have care, when the proces- 
sion is to take place there ; all who have any jewelry, or pieces 
of silk or calico, or other things of that kind, employ them to 
adorn it. 

The great blaze of light contributes not a little to the beauty 
of the church and of the chapels ; it is not necessary for me to 
be saving of the wax, for the country itself furnishes it abund- 
antly. The islands of the sea are bordered by a kind of wild 
laurel, which in autumn produces a berry, a little like that borne 
by the juniper. They fill their kettles with these and boil them 
with water. In proportion as the water thickens, the green wax 
rises to the surface, where it remains. From a measure of about 
three bushels of tliis berry, can be made almost four pounds of 
wax. It is very pure and beautiful, but neither sweet nor plia- 
ble. After several trials, I have found, that by mingUng with it 
an equal quantity of fat, either of beef or mutton, or of the elk, 
beautiful tapers can be made, firm and excellent for use. With 
twenty-four pounds of wax, and as much of fat, can be mad e 



APPENDIX. 22^ 

two hundred tapers of more than a foot in length. A vast quan* 
tity of these laurels are found on the islands and on the borders 
of the sea ; so that one person in a day can easily gather four 
measures, or twelve bushels of the berry. It hangs down like 
grapes from the branches of the tree. I have sent one branch of 
it to Quebec, together with a cake of the wax, and it has been 
found to be very excellent. 

None of my neophytes fail to repair twice in each day to the 
Church, early in the morning to hear Mass, and in the evening 
to assist at the prayers which I offer up at sunset. As it is 
necessary to fix the imagination of these Indians, which is too 
easily distracted, I have composed some appropriate prayers for 
them to make, to enable them to enter into the spirit of the au- 
gust sacrifice^of our altars. They chant them, or else recite them 
in a loud voice during Mass. 

Besides the sermons, which I deliver before them on Sundays 
and festival-days, I scarcely pass a week-day, without making a 
short exhortation to inspire them with a horror of those vices to 
which they are most addicted, or to strengthen them in the prac- 
tice of some virtue. 

After the IVIass, I teach the catechism to the children and 
young persons, while a large number of aged people who are 
present, assist and answer with perfect docility the questions 
which I put to them. The rest of the morning, even to mid-day 
is set apart for seeing those who wish to speak with me. They 
come to me, in crowds, to make me a participator in their pains 
and inquietudes, or to communicate to me causes of complaint 
against their countrymen, or to consult me on their marriages 
and other affairs of importance. It is, therefore, necessarj^ for 
me to instruct some, to console others, to re-establish peace in 
families at variance, to calm troubled consciences, to correct 
others by reprimands mingled Avith softness and charity ; in 
fine, as far as possible, to render them all contented. 

After mid-day, I visit the sick and go round among the cabins 
of those owh require more particular instructions. If they 
hold a council, which is often the case with these Indians, they 
20* 



230 APPENDIX. 

depute one of their principal men of the assembly to ask me to 
assist in their deliberations. I accordingly repair to the place 
where their council is held. If I think they are pursuing a 
wise course, I approve of it : if on the contrary, I have any 
thing to say in opposition to their decision ; I declare my senti- 
ments supporting them by weighty reasons, to which they con- 
form. My advice always fixes their resolutions. They do not 
even hold their feasts without inviting me. Those who have 
been asked, carry each one a dish of wood or bark, to the place 
of entertainment. I give the benediction on the food, and 
they place in each dish the portion which has been prepared. 
After this distribution has been made, I say grace, and each one 
retires ; for such is the order and usage of their feasts. 

In the midst of such continued occupations, you cannot imag- 
ine with what rapidity the days pass by. There have been 
seasons, when I scarcely had time to recite my office, or to take 
a little repose during the night ; for discretion Is not a virtue 
which particularly belongs to the Indians. But for some years 
past I have made it a rule, not to speak with any person from the 
prayers in the evening until the time of Mass on the next morn- 
ing. I have therefore forbidden them to interrupt me during 
this period, except for some very important reason, as for exam- 
ple, to assist a person who is dying, or some other affair of the 
kind, which it is impossible to put off. I set apart tliis time to 
spend in prayer or to repose myself from the fatigues of the day. 
When the Indians repair to the sea shore, where they pass 
some months, in hunting the ducks and other birds, which are 
found there in large numbers, they build on an island a church, 
which they cover with bark, and near it they erect a little cabin 
for my residence. I take care to transport thither a part of our 
ornaments, and the service is performed with the same decency, 
and the same crowds of people as at the village. 

You see then, my dear nephew, what are my occupations. 
For that which relates to me personally, I will say to you, that I 
neither hear, nor see, nor speak to any but the Indians. My 
fbod is very simple and light. I have never been able to con- 



APPENDIX. 231 

form my taste to the meat or the smoked fish of the savages, and 
my nourishment is only composed of corn, which they pound and 
of which I make each day a kind of hominy, which I boil in wa- 
ter. The only luxury in which I indulge, is a litde sugar,which 
I mix with it to correct its insipidity. This is now wantinf^ in 
the forest. In the spring the maple trees contain a lifjuor very 
similar to that which is found in the sugar-canes of the southern 
islands. The women employ themselves in collecting this in 
vessels of bark as it is distilled from the trees. They then boil 
it and draw off from it a very good sugar. That which is drawn 
off first is the most beautiful. 

The whole nation of the Abnakis is Christian, and very zeal- 
ous to preserve their religion. This attachment to the Catholic 
faith, has induced them, even to this time, to prefer our alliance 
to advantages which might be derived from an alliance with the 
English who are their neighbors. These advantages, too, of very 
great importance to the Indians. The facility of trading with 
the English, from whom they are distant, but one or two day's 
journey ; the ease with which the journey can be made, the ad- 
mirable market they would find there for the purchase of the 
merchandize that suits them; these things certainly holdout 
very great inducements. In place of which, in going to Quebec, 
it is necessary to take more than a fortnight to reach there,they 
have to furnish themselves with provisions for the journey, they 
have different rivers to pass and frequent poitages to make. 
They are av^are of these inconveniences, and are by no means 
indifferent to their interests, but their faith is infinitely more 
dear to them ; and they believe that if they detach themselves 
from our alliance, they will shortly find themselves, without a 
missionary, without a sacrifice, with scarcely any exercise of 
their religion, and in manifest danger of being replunged into 
their former heathenism. This is the bond which unites them 
to the French. 



232 APPENDIX. 

He gives also the following account of the attempt 
made by the English to take him prisoner in Jan. 
1712 : 

" I had remained alone in the village, with only a small num- 
ber of old men and infirm persons, while the rest of the Indians 
were at the hunting grounds. The opportunity seemed to them 
a favorable one to surprise me, and with tliis view they sent out 
a detachment of two hundred men.* Two young Abnakis,who 
were engaged in the chase along the sea-shore, learned that the 
English had entered the river, and they immediately turned 
their steps in that direction to observe their progress. Having 
perceived them at ten leagues distance from the village, they 
out-stripped them in traversing the country to give me warning 
and to cause the old men, females and infants to retire in haste. 
I had barely time to swallow the consecrated wafers, to crowd 
the sacred vessels into a little chest, and to save myself in the 
woods. The English amved in the evening at the village, and 
not having found me, came the following morning to search for 
me, even in the very place to which we had retreated. They 
were scarcely a gun-shot distant when we perceived them, and 
all I could do was to hide myself with precipitation in the 
depths of the forest. But as I had not time to take my snow 
shoes, and besides had considerable weakness remaining from a 
fall which took place some years before, when my thigh and leg 
were broken, it was not possible for me to fly very far. The 
only resource which remained to me was to conceal myself be- 
hind a tree. They began immediately to examine the different 
paths worn by the Indians, when they went to collect wood, and 
they penetrated even to within eight paces of the tree which 
concealed me. From this spot it would seem as if they must 
inevitably discover me; for the trees were stripped of their leaves; 
but as if they had been restrained by an invisible hand, they 

*Col. Westbrook's expedition. 



APPENDIX. 

immediately retraced their steps, and repaired again to the 
village. 

It is thus that through the particular protection of God, I es- 
caped from their hands. They pillaged my church and humble 
dwelling,* and thus reduced me almost to death by famine in 
the midst of the woods. It is true, that as soon as they learned 
my adventure in Quebec, they immediately sent mc provisions ; 
but these could not arrive till very late, and during all that time 
I was obliged to live destitute of all succor, and in extreme need. 

The second letter of Rasles, is written to his 
brother, dated at Nanraritsouak, Oct. 18, 1723 ; in 
which he gives a full and minute account of his 
journeys among the Indians, the manners, customs, 
language and superstitions of the different tribes, and 
the following history of the Norridgewocks, which 
differs widely from the statements of English writ- 
ers and official documents that are still preserved. 
" This mission is about twenty-four leagues distant from Penta- 
gouet, and they reckon it to be an hundred leagues from Penta- 
gouet to Port Royal. The river which flows through my mission, 
is the largest of all those which water the territories of the 
Indians. It should be marked on the maps by the name of 
Kinibeki ; and it is this which has induced the French to give 
these Indians the name of Kanibals. This river empties into the 
sea at Sankderank, which is only five or six leagues from 
Pemaquit. After having ascended forty Leagues from Sank- 
derank, you arrive at my village, which is on the height of a 
point of land. We are, at the most, distant only two days jour- 
ney from the English settlements, while it takes us more than a 
fortnight to reach Quebec, and the journey is very painful and 
difiicult. It Avould therefore be natural that our Indians should 
trade with the English, and every possible inducement has been 

*Rasles' Dictionary of the Abnakcs' language, auJ the strong box 
containing his chapel furniture. 



234 APPENDIX. 

held out to them, to attract and gain their friendship ; but all 
these efforts were useless, and nothing was able to detach them 
from their alliance with the French. And yet the only tie 
which unites us so closely, is their firm attachment to the Cath- 
olic faith. They are convinced that if they give themselves up 
to the English, they will shortly find themselves without a 
missionary, without a sacrifice, without a sacrament, and even 
without any exercise of religion, so that little by little, they 
would be plunged again into their former heathenism. This 
firmness of our Indians has been subjected to many kinds 
of tests by their powerful neighbors, but without their being 
able to gain anything. 

At the time that the war was about to be rekindled between 
the European powers, the English governor, who had lately 
arrived at Boston, requested a conference with our Indians by 
the sea shore, on an island which he designated.* They consent>- 
ed, and begged me to accompany them thither, that they might 
consult me with regard to any artful propositions which might 
be made to them, so that they could be assured their answers 
would contain nothing contrary to their religion, or the interest 
of the King's service. I therefore followed them, with the 
intention of merely remaining in their quarters to aid their coun- 
cils without appearing before the Governor. As we approached 
the island, being more than two hundred canoes in number, the 
English saluted us with the discharge of all the cannon of their 
ships, and the Indians responded to it by a similar discharge 
from all their guns. Immediately afterwards the Governor 
appeared on the island, the Indians hastily landed and I thus 
found myself where I did not desire to be, and where the 
Governor did not wish that I should be. As soon as he perceiv- 
ed me, he advanced some steps to where I was, and after the 
usual compliments, returned to the midst of his people, while I 
rejoined the Indians. 

" It is by the order of our Queen," said he, " that I have 

* This was Governor Dudley. They met at Casco. It is impossible 
to reconcile Rasles' account of this interview with the English account. 



APPENDIX. 



come to see you. She earnestly desires that you should live in 
peace. If any of the English should be so imprudent as to 
wrong you, do not think to avenge yourselves, but immediately 
address your complaints to me, and I will render you prompt 
justice. If war should happen to take place between us and 
the French, remain neutral, and do not in any way mix your- 
selves in our difficulties. The French are as strong as we are ; 
permit us therefore, to settle our own quarrels. We will supply 
your wants, we will take your furs, and we will afford you our 
merchandise at a moderate price." My presence prevented 
him from saying all that he had intended ; for it was not without 
design that he had brought a minister with him. 

When he had ceased speaking, the Indians retired to deliber- 
ate among themselves, on the answer they should make. During 
this time the Governor took me aside. " I pray you Monsieur," 
said he, " do not induce the Indians to make war on us." I 
replied to him, " that my religion and my character as a priest, 
engaged me to give them only the councils of peace." I should 
have spoken more, had I not found myself immediately sur- 
rounded by a band of some twenty young warriors, who feared 
lest the Governor wished to take me away. Meantime, the 
Indians advanced and one of them made the following reply. 

" Great chief, you have told us not to unite ■v\'ith the French- 
man in case that you declare war against him. Know that the 
Frenchman is my brother, we have one and the same prayer, 
both for him and ourselves, and we dwell in the same cabin at 
two fires, he is at one fire and I am at the other fire. If I 
should see you enter the cabin on the side of the fire where my 
brother the Frenchman is seated, I should watch you from my 
mat where I am seated at the other fire. If, observing you, I 
perceived that you had a hatchet, I should think, what does the 
Englishman intend to do with that hatchet ? Then I should 
raise myself from my mat to see what he is going to do. If he 
lifted the hatchet to strike my brother the Frenchman, I should 
seize mine and rush at the Englishman to strike him. Would 
it be possible for me to see my brother struck in my cabin, and 



236 APPENDIX. 

I remain quiet on my mat ? No, no, I love my brother too 
well not to defend him. Tlius I would say to you, Great Chief, 
do nothing to my brother, and I will do notliing to you. Remain 
quiet on your mat, and I shall remain quietly on mine." 

Thus the conference ended. A short time afterwards, some 
of our Indians arrived from Quebec, and reported that a French 
ship had brought the news of war being renewed between 
France and England. Immediately our Indians, after having 
deliberated according to their custom, ordered their young peo- 
ple to kill the dogs, to make a war feast, and to learn there who 
wished to engage themselves. The feast took place, they 
arranged the kettle, they danced, and two hundred and fifty war' 
riors were present. After the festival they appointed a day to 
come to confession. I exhorted them to preserve the same 
attachment to their prayer that they would have in the village j 
to observe strictly the laws of war ; not to be guilty of any 
cruelty, never to kill any one except in the heat of combat ; to 
treat humanely those who surrendered themselves prisoners, &c. 

The manner in which these people make war, renders a hand- 
ful of their warriors more formidable than would be a body of 
two or three thousand English soldiers. As soon as they have 
entered the enemy's country, they divide themselves into difi*er- 
ent parties ; one of thirty warriors, another of forty, &c. They 
say to each other, " To you we give this hamlet to devour ;" 
(that is the expression,) " To those others we give this village, 
&c." Then they arrange their signal for a simultaneous attack, 
and at the same time on different points. In this way our two 
hundred and fifty warriors spread themselves over more than 
twenty leagues of country, filled with villages, hamlets and 
mansions. On the day designated they made their attack togeth- 
er early in the morning, and in that single day, swept away all 
that the English possessed there, killed more than two hundred, 
and took five hundred prisoners, with the loss on their part, of 
only a few warriors slightly wounded. They returned from 
this expedition to the village, having each one or two canoes load- 
ed Tvith the plunder they had taken. 



APPENDIX. 237 

During the time that the war lasted they carried desolation 
Into all the territories which belonged to the English, ravaged 
their villages, their forts, their farms, took an immense number 
of their cattle, and made more than six hundred prisoners. At 
length these gentlemen, persuaded with reason that in keeping 
my Indians In their attachment to the Catholic faith, I was 
more and more strengthening the bonds which united them to 
the French ; set In operation every kind of wile and artifice to 
detach them from me. Neither offers nor promises were spared to 
induce the Indians to deliver me Into their hands, or at least, to 
send me back to Quebec, and take one of their ministers in 
my place. They made many attempts to surprise me and carry 
me off" by force : they even went so far as to promise a thousand 
pounds sterling to any one who would bring them my head. 
You may well believe, my dear brother, that these threats are 
able neither to intimidate me, nor diminish my zeal. I should 
be only too happy, if I might become their victim, or if God 
should judge me worthy to be loaded with irons, and to shed my 
blood for the salvation of my dear Indians. 

At the first news which arrived of peace having been made 
in Europe, the Governor of Boston sent word to our Indians, 
that If they would assemble in a place which he designated, he 
would confer with them on the present conjuncture of affairs.* 
All the Indians accordingly repaired to the place appointed, and 
the Governor addressed them : " Men of Naranhous, I would 
inform you that peace is made between the King of France 
and our Queen ; and by this treaty of peace, the King of France 
has ceded to our Queen, Plaisance and Portrail, with all the 
adjacent territories. Thus if you wish, we can live in peace 
together. We have done so In former times, but the suggestions 
of the French have made you break it ; and it was to please 
them that you came to kill us. Let us forget all these unfortu- 
nate affairs, and cast them into the sea, so that they shall not 
appear any more, and we may be good friends." 

* War closed bv Treaty of Utrecht, 1713. 

21 



238 APPENDIX. 

" It is well," replied the orator in the name of the Indians, 
" that the Kings should be at peace ; I am contented that it 
should be so, and have no longer any difficulty in making peace 
with you. I was not the one who struck you during the last 
twelve years. It was the Frenchman who used my arm to strike 
you. We were at peace, it is true. I had even thrown away 
my hatchet, I know not where, and I was reposing on my mat, 
thinking of nothing ; the young men then brought a message 
wliich the Governor of Canada had sent, and by which he said 
to me, " My son, the Englishman has struck me ; help me to 
avenge myself ; take the hatchet and strike the Englishman. I 
who have always listened to the words of the French Governor, 
search for my hatchet, I find it entirely rusted ; I burnish it up ; 
I place it at my belt to go and strike. Now the Frenchman tells 
me to lay it down ; I therefore throw it far from me, that no one 
may longer see the blood with which it is reddened. Thus let 
us live in peace. I consent to it. 

" But you say that the Frenchman has given you Plaisance 
and Portrail, which is in my neighborhood, with all the adjacent 
territories. He may give you what he pleases, but for me, I 
have my land, which the Great Spirit has given me to live upon ; 
as long as there shall be a child remaining of my nation, he will 
fight to preserve it." 

Everything ended in this friendly way ; the Governor made 
a great feast for the Indians, after which each one withdrew. 

The happy arrival of peace and the tranquility they began 
to enjoy, suggested to the Indians the idea of rebuilding our 
church, ruined during a sudden irruption which the English 
made while they were absent from the village.* As we were 
very far removed from Quebec, and were much nearer Boston, 
they sent a deputation thither of several of their princi- 
pal men of the nation to ask for workmen, with the prom- 
ise of paying them liberally for their labor. The Governor 
received them witli great demonstrations of friendship, and 

* Col. Hutton's expedition in 1705. 



APPENDIX. 239 

gave them all kinds of caresses. '' I -wish myself to rebuild 
your church," said he, " and I will spend more for you than has 
been done by the French Governor, -whom you call your father. 
It would be his duty to rebuild it, since it was, in some den-ree, 
for his sake that it was ruined, by inducing you to strike me ; 
for as for me, I defend myself as I am able. He, on the contrary-, 
after ha\ang used you for his defence, has abandoned you. I 
will do much more for you, for not only will I grant you the 
workmen, but I wish also to pay them myself, and to defray all 
the other expenses of the edifice which you desire to have 
erected. But as it is not reasonable that I who am English, 
should build a church without placing there also an English 
minister to guard it, and to teach the prayer, I will give you 
one with whom you will be contented ; and you shall send back 
to Quebec the French minister who is now in your village." 

"Your words astonish me," replied the deputy of the 
Indians, " and you excite my wonder by the proposition which 
you make to me. When you first came hither, you saw me a 
long time before the French Governors ; but neither those who 
preceded you, nor your ministers have spoken to mc of prayer 
of the great Spii-it. They have seen my furs, my skins of the 
beaver and the elk ; and it is about these only, they have thought ; 
these they have sought with the greatest eagerness, so that 
I was not able to furnish them enough; and when I car- 
ried them a large quantity, I was their great friend, but no 
farther. On the contrary, my canoe having one day missed the 
route, I lost my way and wandered a long time at random, until 
at last I landed near Quebec, in a great village of the Jlgonquitis, 
where the black robes* were teaching. Scarcely had I arrived 
when one of the black robes came to see me. I was loaded 
with furs, but the French black robe scarcely deigned to look 
at them. He spoke to me at once of the Great Spirit of Para- 
dise, of hell, of the prayer, which is the only way to reach heav- 
en. I heard him with pleasure, and was so much delighted in 
his conversations, that I remained a long time in that village, to 

* The Jesuitii. 



240 APPENDIX. 

listen to them. In fine, the prayer pleased me, and I asked him 
to instruct me. I demanded baptism, and I received it. At 
last I returned to my country, and related what had happened 
to me. They envied my happiness, they wished to paiticipate 
in it. They departed to find the black robe, and demand of 
him baptism. It is thus that the French have acted towards 
me. If as soon as you had seen me, you had spoken to me of 
the prayer, I should have had the unhappiness to pray as you 
do, for I was not capable of discovering whether your prayer 
was good. Thus I tell you that I hold to the prayer of the 
French. I agree to it, and I shall be faithful to it, ever, until 
the earth is burnt up and destroyed. Keep then your work- 
men, your gold and your minister, I will not speak to you 
more of them ; I will ask the French Governor, my father, 
to send them to me." 

Indeed, Monsieur, the Governor had no sooner been apprised 
of the ruin of our church, than he sent some workmen to re- 
build it. It possesses a beauty which would cause it to be 
admired even in Europe, and nothing has been spared to 
adorn it. You have been able to see by the detail I have given 
in my letter to my nephew, that in the depths of these forests, 
and among these Indian tribes, the divine service is performed 
with much propriety and dignity. It is to this point that I am 
very attentive, not only when the Indians reside in the village, 
but also all the time that they are obliged to remain by the sea 
shore, where they go twice each year for the purpose of ob- 
taining means of subsistance. Our Indians have so entirely 
destroyed the game in this part of the country, that during ten 
years they have scarcely found either elk or roebuck. The bears 
and beavers have also become very rare. They have scarcely 
anything on which to live, but Indian corn, beans and pump- 
kins. They grind the corn between two stones to reduce it to 
meal, then they make it into a kind of hominy, which they often 
season with fat or dried fish. When the corn fails, then they 
search in the ploughed lands for potatoes, or acorns, which last 
they esteem as much as corn. After having dried them they 



APPENDIX. 2^ 

are boiled in a kettle with ashes to take away the bitterness. 
For myself I eat them dry, and they answer for bread. 

At a particular season of the year, they repair to a river not 
far distant, where during one month the fish ascend in such 
great numbers, that a person could fill fifty thousand barrels in 
a day, if he could endure the labor. They are a kind of large 
herrings, very agreeable to the taste when fresh, crowding one 
upon another to the depth of a foot. They are drawn out as if 
they were water. The Indians dry them for eight or ten days, 
and live on them during all the time that they are planting 
their fields. 

It is only in the spring that they plant their corn, and they 
do not give it their last tillage until towards Corpus Christi day. 
After this they deliberate as to what spot on the sea shore 
they shall go to find something to live on until the harvest, which 
does not ordinaiily take place until a little after the festival of 
the assumption; (The 15th of August.) When their delibera- 
tions are over, they send a messenger to pray me to repair to 
their assembly. As soon as I have arrived there, one of them 
addresses me thus, in the name of all the others : " Our father* 
what I say to you, is what all those whom you see here would 
say ; you know us, you know that we are in want of food ; we 
have had difficulty in giving the last tillage to oui* fields, and 
now have no other resource until the harvest, but to go and 
seek provisions by the sea shore. It will be hard for us to aban- 
don our prayer, and it is for this reason we hope you will be 
willing to accompany us, so that while seeking the means of liv- 
ing, we shall not at all interrupt our prayer. Such and such 
persons will embark you ; and what you have to carry with you 
shall be distributed in the other canoes. This is what I have to 
say to you." I have no sooner replied to them kekikberba, (it is 
an Indian name, which implies, I hear you, my children, I agree 
to what you ask,) than they all cry out together, oriorie, which is 
an expression of thanks. Immediately we leave the village. 

As soon as they reach the place where they are to pass the 
night ; they fix up stakes at intervals, in the form of a chapel ; 
21* 



^2 APPENDIX. 

they surround them with a large tent made of ticking, -which 
has no opening except in front. It is all finished in a quarter 
of an hour. I always carry with me a beautiful board of cedar 
about four feet in length, with the necessary supports, and this 
serves for an altar, while above it they place an appropriate 
canopy. I ornament the interior of the chapel with very beau- 
tiful silk cloths ; a mat of reeds, dyed and admirably made ; a 
large bear skin serves for a carpet. They carry this always 
prepared, and no sooner are they settled down than the chapel 
is arranged. At night I take my repose on a carpet ; the Indi- 
ans sleep in the air in the open fields, if it does not rain ; but 
if the snow or rain falls, they cover themselves with bark which 
they carry with them, and which they have rolled out until it 
resembles cloth. If the journey be made in the winter, they 
remove the snow from a space large enough for the chajDcl to 
occupy, and arrange it as usual. There each day, are made the 
morning and evening prayers ; and the sacrifice of the mass is 
offered up. 

When the Indians have reached their destination, the very 
next day they occupy themselves in raising the church, which 
they dress up Avith their bark cloths. I carry with me my 
plate and everything which is necessary to ornament the choir, 
which I hang with silk cloths and beautiful calicos. Divine 
service is performed there as at the village, and in fact they 
form a village with all their wigwams made of bark, which are 
aU prepared in less than an hour. 

Both of these letters he closes with the determin- 
ation to remain with his beloved people, although 
he knew the dangers that threatened him from his 
enemies. In the midst of his perils he says, '-Noth- 
ing^but death shall separate me from my flock, I 
count not my life ; dear unto myself, so that I may 
finish my course with joy." 

This spirit is thus represented by Deering in his 
Tragedy of Carrabasset : 



APPENDIX. 243 

" What ! to gain 
A few short years, (for few they are at most) 
Should I relingiiish that to which a life 
Hath been devoted ? No, it cannot be. 
The slender fabric, that with so much care 
And labor was erected, still requires 
My feeble aid ; and, should I leave it now, 
Who would prevent its tottering to its fall ? 
To me this blind deluded race are precious ; 
'T was for their benefit I sought these "vvilds, 
And here will I remain till hope expires." 

The following translation^^ of a letter dated the 
very day of the destruction of Norridgewock is 
found in the Massachusetts Historical Collections, 
vol. 8, p. 245. 

Mon. Ralley the Romish Priest at Non-idgewalk, his letter to his Rev. 
Father dated August 12th, 1724, the very day that Captain Harmon 
and his men slew him and a number of Indians. 

(Copy.) Narridgewalk, Aug. 23, N. S. 

12. O. S. 
My Rev. Father, 

My people are returned from their last expedition wherein 
one of their bravest champions was killed, believing there was 
about two hundred English divided in thi-ee partys or bands to 
drive them out of their camp, and expecting a further number 
to enforce them, in order to ruin all the corn in the fields with- 
out doubt but I said to them how could that be, seeing we are 
daily surrounding and making inrodes upon them every where 
in the midst of their land, and they not comeing out of their fort^ 
which they have upon our own land, besides in all the warr you 

*The orthography of this letter is bad ; probably a rough translation 
from the French. We publish it from the copy. 



244 APPENDIX. 

have had with them, did you ever see them come to attack you 
in the spring, summer, or in the fall, when they knew you were 
in your habitations, you knew it you say yourselves that they 
never did but when you was not, but when you were in the 
woods, for if they knew there were but 12 or 15 men in your 
dwellings they dare not approach you with one hundred. We 
told you after the fall fight of Kee Kepenaglieseek that the Eng- 
lish would come with the nation of Irognas to revenge them- 
selves, you opposed it, and said they would not and yet they did, 
you see now whether you are in the right. I had reason to be- 
lieve it, founded on the kings word, who could ever think he 
should forge such a falsehood, and how should I then answer 
right. And it was to make good their false designs that they 
come here to show themselves a master of your land (contrary to 
my expectation) where they would not have a Romish Priest to 
dwell, and if they did not burn the church it is because I did 
send them word in your behalfe that if they did biu-n it you 
shoidd burn all theii' temples, therefore there was an order to the 
officer not to burn any thing, they hearken to all my reasons 
afforegoeing 'but follow their own, they design to quitt the vil- 
lage for a fortnight and to goe five or six leagues up the river 
they proposed it to me and I have given them my consent. 

I just now received a letter from father Loveijat with four 
cod fish out of eight that he sent me, the bearers have eat four by 
the way and said it was a case of necessity being for want of 
provisions though their village is full of cod fish out of 15 or 16 
vesselles they have taken, the father sent me word that by a 
suitable opportunity he shall send me more, and has sent me 
word that they have newly taken three vessells and killed ten 
men some on the spot and others by reason they revolted who 
had spared their lives, they have attempted to burn the fort St. 
George by two fire slups or vessells, but for want of wind they 
miscarried. The fire began to take the wood part of the fort 
whereupon they heard the English make a great cry and lamen- 
tation, some of them comeing out of the fort to attempt to extin- 
guish the fire, which the Indians could not kill by reason of their 



APPENDIX. 245 

being posted on the contrary side, they not forseeing that the 
English could come out of the fort on that side, the fire of one of 
the vessels went out soon of it selfe and the English had it. Af- 
ter that nine of the Indians went off in a vessell, where they 
were attacked by two English vessells they engaged some time, 
and the Indians haveing no more powder attempted to board 
one of them but they shunned it, therefore the Indians were ob- 
lidged to retire, eleven other Indians went in a vessell and espi- 
ed two English vesseUs in the road and went to plunder them, 
but seeing they were full of men, and themselves not able to 
stand them, did save themselves by swimming ashore and leave- 
ing their vessells. Says the father, I attribute the bad success 
to their ingratitude to God and disobedience to me, a vessell 
said he which came from the mines to bring us prosisions, said 
that an English man assured him that they had a very great in- 
clination to peace at Boston and he doubted not but it would be 
concluded the next fall, which appears very probable because a 
vessel which went from hence to Boston to bring a ransom for 
the prisoners that are here, is not returned, notwithstanding the 
same time is long since expired, and I have answered them that 
did not agree with the counsle Dr. Orange, that was resolved to 
keep their land, I further SEiid that I would never permit my 
people to receive a ransom for those they take for there is not 
one but would ransom liimselfe and if we should heai-ken to it, 
the English would never think to return the land, for the loss of 
their people, that they would easily buy &c. The father Loy- 
ard Avrote to him that his people with Kinckemoeks have been 
in two partys to make an attempt on the English at Port Eoy- 
all, one of these partys attacked the fort itselfe where they did 
kill six men and burnt two houses after they had plundered 
them, and the other party is not yet returned back. My peo- 
ple are absolutely willing to return to those forts where one of 
their brave champions was killed in the last party. I am very 
glad that Mr. L'entendant has accepted my present, they have 
brought me my chocolate the two bills that James was to have 
brought with him was cast away, by over setting a canoe ; I am 



24G APPENDIX. 

"vvell stocked with clioeolate for a long time -which I came easily 
by, and it shall not be presently carried away, for it is very 
weighty, as for the remaining part do yon keep for me, it may 
be it tronbles yon as mnch as it wonld tronblc me if I had it. 
The father Dnpy had a warehouse where T put all the wollen and 
llnnen shot ami powder as well as the blanketing and gun you 
got for me. Since the canoe of the Ilarones was here, I added 
those things to his merchandize ibr him, to make the best pro- 
fit — as for me I'm contented and I think well paid, the wine 
shall be put in the cellar to be mixed with that of the house, if 
the tobacco were here it should be put in the magazine, I am 
very much obliged to you my Eev. Father for the care yon ti\ke 
of me, you are Avilling I should live as achanoine till the spring, 
by the plentiful! supply you have sent me by Panseawen, I have 
yet considerable for my selfe for the winter. Since thou has 
sent me some wine, I take a glass after my mass, but I dont find 
it keeps me so well as a dram of brandy. T want nothing but 
Spanish wine for the mass 1 have enough for my selfe for above 
12 months, therefore I pray the 3d time to send no more wine, 
I shall send for more when I want. 

INTEKCEriED LETTER ERO^I RALLE, 1724— TAKEN FROil 
MASS. HIST. COLLECTIONS— VOL. 8, PAGE 2G6. 
My people returned in the spring, having learnt what had 
passed in the Avinter, made a party of forty men against the 
English, not with a design to kill, but to put them in mind of 
their word, and to make them draw ofi*. In one night they 
ranged near ten leagiies of the country where the English had 
settled, bi-oke into their houses, bound their men, which they 
made prisonei-s to the number of sixty-four, pillaged their 
houses and burnt all — and this party being returned, another 
fitted out to pillage and burn many houses with, we hear, a 
stone fort ; and at length, they took up the hatchet against the 
English, and carried it to a village of Canada. The Avarriors 
set out on their way, and being arrived here, I embarked with 
them to go to war, being iu all, 160, we arrived at the village 



APPENUIX. 247 

they went to attack, •which consisted of fifty fair houses, suj). 
ported by five forts, two of stone and three of wood. At break 
of day, ten Englishmen coming out of their stone fort with 
arms, seven of my people set upon them, killed some, but one 
of ours being wounded in the thigh was brought to the camp 
and the English dare not, after that, come out of their stone 
fort any more, where all the inhabitants had slicltercd them- 
selves to the number of GOO men, besides women and children. 
My people still inviting them to come out, and nobody appear- 
ing, they fell upon the houses supposing the inliabitants had 
been there, which they found empty, and pillaged and burnt 
them all with their three forts of wood; they burnt all their 
works of wood, filled up their wells, killed their cattle, oxen 
cows, horses, sheep, swine; and these 600 miserable English- 
men saw all this without daring to come out; and as for myself 
to pleasure the Euglish, I made my appearance and shewed 
myself to them several times, which perhaps increased their fury 
against me, while they saw me, but dare do nothing to me al- 
though they knew that the governor had set my head at a thou- 
s and livres sterling ; I shall not part with it nevertheless for all 
the sterling money in England. But that which I see most per- 
plexing and pittlful in all, is, that the English still keep their 
forts, and the Indian arms not being able to do any thing against 
them, they remain still, masters of the land, and unless the 
French join with the Indians, the land is lost. This is what 
now discourageth the Indians, for which reason they have left 
Norridgewock fort for to people the villages of Canada : they 
would have carried me with them but I bid them go. But as 
for me, I remain, and they are gone, and about eight or nine 
stays here with me. We know that the Court shall judge con- 
cerning this country and the Indians have quitted being per- 
suaded that the English to revenge themselves for the damage 
we have done will come and burn Norridgewock. 

The letter aforewritten was taken among Ssb. R.ille's papers 
at Norridgewo3k. — J. Willard. 

Endorsed, "Letter from Seb. Ralle, 1724." 



248 APPENDIX. 

Francis, in his " Life of Rasles," thus alludes to 
the plunder of the church, " strong box," &C. 

" Kale speaks of the plunder of his church and house, without 
telling what was carried away. In the alarm of his flight, he had 
left behind his papers, in his " strong box," as it is commonly- 
called. Of these Westbrook's party took possession. The soli- 
tary priest must have felt the loss deeply. A portion of these 
papers, we are told, were letters he had received from the Gov- 
ernor of Canada. 

But the most valuable part of the plunder was Rale's manu- 
script Dictionary of the Abnaki Language. This dictionary, 
to which I have before referred, had been a favorite labor with 
him for many years ; and the students of scientific philology 
will never cease to be grateful to him for the patient toil he ex- 
pended on the work. The original manuscript, carefully pre- 
served in strong binding, is now In the library of Harvard Col- 
lege, to which it was presented by Middlecott Cooke. It is a 
quarto volume, in Rale's own hand-writing. 

The work is divided into two parts. The first is a dictionary 
of the Abnaki dialect, in French and Indian, the French word 
or phrase being given first, and then the corresponding Indian 
expression, generally, though not uniformly, in distinct columns. 
Two hundred and five leaves, a comparatively small part of 
which have writing on both sides, and the remainder on one side 
only, make up this part. The second part has twenty-five 
leaves, both sides of which are generally filled with writing. It 
is entitled ParticulcB, an account of the particles^ the Indian 
words being placed first, and the explanations given in French 
or Latin. 

One can scarcely look at this important manuscript, with its 
dingy and venerable leaves, without associations of deep interest 
with those labors, and that life in the wilderness, of which it is 
now the only memorial. Students of the Indian dialects have 
most justly considered It a precious contribution to the materials 
of philological science. Many years ago, its value arrested the 



APPENDIX. 249 

attention of tliat highly distinguished scholar, Mr. John Picker- 
ing, to whose studies in the philosophy of language the literary 
public is so deeply indebted. In 1818, he published, as an ap- 
pendix to his remarks on the " Orthography of the Indian Lan- 
guages of North America," an accurate account of Rale's manu- 
script dictionary, expressing the hope that it might as soon as 
possible be published. The so much desired object was not 
effected till 1833. To Mr. Pickering's persevering interest and 
labors, therefore, we owe it, that this very important document 
of Indian language is placed beyond the reach of the accidents 
to which manuscripts are ever liable. 

A force was detached, according to Hutchinson, consisting of 
two hundred and eight men, under the command of Captains 
Harman, Moulton, and Bourn, and Lieutenant Bean, who, on 
the 8th of August, (O. S.) 1724, left Richmond Fort on the 
Kennebec. Three Mohawk Indians were in the party. The 
next day brought them to Teconnet. Here they left forty of 
their men to guard the seventeen whale boats, in which they 
had ascended the river. The remainder of the company began 
their march, on the 10th, for Norridgewock. In the evening of 
the same day, they saw two Indian women, whom they fired 
upon, one, the daughter of Bomaseen, was killed ,• the other, 
his wife, was taken prisoner, and gave them information about 
the state of things at Norridgewock. On the 1 2th, about mid- 
day they were near the fated village. Here the troops were 
divided. Harman, with sixty or eighty men, filed off in the 
direction of the Indian cornfields, where it was supposed some 
of them might be found. Moulton, with the rest of the soldiers 
proceeded directly to the village, which they reached at about 
three o'clock. The party advanced in the most cautious silence, 
without at first seeing one of the inhabitants. But soon one 
of them came out of his wigwam, and looking around, saw the 
enemy close upon him. He shouted the war-whoop, and ran 
for his gun. The alarm rang through the A-illage, which then 
consisted of about sixty fighting men, besides the aged, the 
women and children. 



250 APPENDIX. 

The warriors rushed forth to the fight, and the rest fled. 
Moulton, believing that the Indians in their hurry and confu- 
sion, would overshoot, reserved the fire of his men till they had 
discharged their muskets. It was as he expected ; not one of 
the English was hurt. The fire of the company which followed, 
made havoc among the Indians, who discharged their guns once 
more, and then fled precipitately towards the river. Some 
sprang into canoes, but had no paddles ; others swam, and a few 
of the tallest forded the stream, the water being about six feet 
deep at that time. Their pursuers hurried after them, and 
shot them in the water. It was believed that not more than 
fifty of the whole village gained the opposite bank ; and of these 
some fell from the English balls before they could reach the 
woods. 

Moulton's soldiers then returned to the village- There they 
found Rale firing from one of the wigwams upon a few of the 
English who had not joined in the pursuit. Moulton had given 
orders not to kiU the priest. But a wound inflicted upon one of 
the English by Rale's fire from the wigwam, so exasperated 
Jaques, a lieutenant, that he burst the door, and shot Rale 
through the head. This disobedience of orders Jaques excused 
by alleging, that when he broke into the wigAvam, Rale was 
loading his gun, and declared, "that he would neither give nor 
take quarter." How little confidence can be placed in this state- 
ment of the lieutenant we learn from the fact, that according to 
Hutchinson, Moulton himself doubted its truth at the time, and 
utterly disproved the action. 

An old Indian chief, named Mogg,* who had killed one of the 
Mohawks from his wigwam, was shot, and his helpless squaw and 
children were butchered. The other noted warriors found 
among the dead were Bomaseen, Job, Carabasset, Wissememet, 
and Bomaseen's son-in-law. 

*Mogg Megone. 

Note. The quotations above cited, taken from various authorities, 
we piiblish without criticism, leaving the reader to fomi his own judg- 
ment from the testimony. JNIuch of speculation exists in the public 
mind relative to the true character of Sebastian Rasles. We simply 
venture the opinion that a shade of imperfection rests upon his character. 



APPENDIX. 251 

The following account ofthe massacre is recorded 
in the 7th vol. Mass. Hist. Collections, p. 254. 

On the 23d of August, [O. S. 12th,] 1724, several hundred 
men came to Nanrantsouak. In consequence of the thick- 
ets with wliich the village was surrounded, and tlic little care 
taken by the inhabitants to prevent a surprise, the invaders were 
not discovered until the very instant they made a discharge of 
their guns, and their shot had penetrated the Indian wigwams. 
There were not above fifty fighting men in the \'illage. These 
took to their arms, and ran out in confusion, not with any ex- 
pectation of defending the place against an enemy already in 
possession, but to favor the escape of their wives, their old men 
and children, and to give them time to gain the other side ofthe 
river, of which the English had not then possessed themselves. 

The noise and tumult gave Father Rasles notice of the dan- 
ger his converts were in. Not intimidated, he went out to meet 
the assailants, in hopes to draw all their attention to himself and 
secure his flock at the peril of his own life. He was not disap- 
pointed. As soon as he appeared the English set up a shout, 
which was followed by a shower of shot, and he fell near a cross, 
which he had erected in the middle of the village, and with him 
seven Indians who had accompanied him to shelter him with their 
OAvn bodies. The Indians, in the greatest consternation at his 
death, immediately took to flight, and crossed the river some by 
fording and others swimming. The enemy pursued them until 
they entered far into the woods ; and then returned, and pil- 
laged and burnt the church and the wigwams. Notwithstand- 
ing so many shot had been fired, only tliirty of the Indians were 
slain, and fourteen wounded. After having accomplished their 
object, the English ^withdrew with such precipitation that it 
seemed rather a flight than a victory. 

•* The ' strong box ' which contained his papers and inkstand, 
is also preserved. It is of a curious and complicated construc- 
tion. In the lower part is a secret drawer or compartment, to 



252 APPENDIX. 



'/Y^- 



which one unacquainted with the manner of opening it cai^ 
scarcely find access without breaking the box. On the inside 
of the lid are pasted two engravings, in a rude style, repre- 
senting the scourging of Jesus and the crowning with thorns. — 
The box after long continuing in the possession of Col. West- 
brook's family, has been deposited by one of his decendants in 
the collection of the Mass. Hist. Society." Francis' Life^'p. 299. 

Rasle's '^Vade Meciim," or Prayer Book, is 
now in the possession of William Willis, Esq., of 
Portland. It is truly a venerable looking Volume. 
It probably accompanied the Jesuit in all his wan- 
derings among the Norridgewock's. It was taken 
at the time of the massacre, by Col. Harman. 

The following is the description of Old Point, by 
Francis, in his life of Rasles. 

" Whoever has visited the pleasant town of Norridgewock, as 
it now is, must have heard of Indian Old Pointy as the people 
call the place where Rale's village stood, and perhaps curiosity 
may have carried him thither. If so, he has found a lovely, 
sequestered spot in the depth of nature's stillness, on a point 
around which the waters of the Kennebec, not far from their 
confluence with those of Sandy River, sweep on in their beau- 
tiful course, as if to the music of the rapids above ; a spot over 
which the sad memory of the past, without its passions, will 
throw a charm, and on which, he will believe, the ceaseless 
worship of nature might blend itself with the aspirations of 
Christian devotion. He will find, that vestiges of the old set- 
tlement are not wanting now ; that broken utensils, glass beads, 
and hatchets, have been turned up by the husbandman's plow, 
and are preserved by the people in the neighborhood ; and he, 
will turn away from the place with the feeling, that the hateful- 
ness of the mad spirit of war is aggravated by such a connec- 
tion with nature's sweet retirements." — p. 321. 






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